SPOTLIGHT: The Casio SK series keyboards, carries great nostalgia for many of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s.
My friend got one for his birthday, and after spending an entire day at his place sampling burps, coughs and farts, I knew I was destined to become an electronic musician. If this is your story too- let us know below in the comments section.
The SK line’s distinctive design and sound evoke memories of early bedroom-made electronic music and hip-hop production, making it a sought-after collector’s item. The SK sound quality is characterized by its lo-fi charm. Everything sampled into it sounds like crap, but in a good way!
There’s a thriving community of musicians and collectors who appreciate the SK-2 , SK-5, SK-8 et al for their historical significance and cultural impact.
Used prominently on my 2008 release of AUDIOCOSM by Jarrod Barker, the SK-8 was used as a sampling beat box and also one or two of its famous presets were used in a loop to create swirling matrices of sound on a number of tracks. I found this keyboard in a thrift store in 2007 buried in the children’s electronic toys. It was $2.99 CAD and even had the battery cover. This fortuitous discovery was the spark that led to the writing and recording (on a boat no less!) of AUDIOCOSM.
The rare white version of the SK-10.
At their absolute basic, the SK line are fun keyboards and a great introduction tool to lo-fi sampling. But there is much more.
After recording a short audio sample (recorded either via the built in monophonic microphone or by plugging in an audio source using the 1/8″ female jack) you can choose from various envelopes (settings that affect how the sound starts, how long it sounds and how it ends) and also select whether to reverse or loop samples. These toy synthesizers are a treat when connected via guitar effects pedals. A good outboard effect can transform these keyboards into something much more powerful and believable. If that isn’t enough you can explore the factory preset sounds some of which sound more realistic than others but all have usefulness in the correct setting.
Most SK’s have a decent enough piano, vibraphone, flute, trumpet and clarinet sounds. There are also built-in speakers that are loud enough for mobile use such as camping or beach hang outs and of course the SK’s run on batteries. They also have line out feature which bypasses the onboard speakers allowing you to record them into your favorite DAW or standalone recording machine….an analog 4 track is a great bedfellow.
The Mod community and the SK (circuit bending)
Due to it’s relative affordability (used prices have continued to rise in the past 10 years) the SK series of keyboards have been embraced by electronic musician modifiers. Their basic construction and ease of internal access makes modifying them a lot of fun. The creativity of modders seems to be endless- everything from MIDI control to individual audio outputs to real time control of sound chips using dip switches or rotary controls.
Join that thriving community by buying this one from our friend at Tone Tweakers today! For the Silo, Jarrod Barker.
We’ve touched on the symbiotic relationship between film and art in the past, such as our comparison between Blade Runner and Barry Lyndon. Let’s take a look at a few other examples. Hope you enjoy the article below and as always, if we have missed any please comment at the bottom of the page.
Art and cinema, two powerful forms of creative expression, often intersect in fascinating ways. Many of the most visually stunning movies, like the examples below, take their cinematographic style from the world of fine art. While fine artworks are only single frames, they are able to convey a sense of movement and story through their composition, perspective, form, color, and style.
For example, dynamic brushwork and lines can create a sense of energy and movement, while color and contrast can evoke emotion and progression in the narrative. Those same creative techniques are used by cinematographers to create unique cinematic experiences that resonate with audiences. And in some cases, a film’s visual inspiration is taken directly from specific fine art pieces rather than an overarching fine art visual style.
For artists, examining how filmmakers have drawn from fine art can help gain insights into how visual elements impact storytelling, convey emotions, and engage audiences, offering a wealth of inspiration and new approaches to consider in their own work.
The Exorcist – A Surreal Dance of Light and Darkness
“The Exorcist,” directed by William Friedkin, is a seminal horror film that tells the chilling tale of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity. This film’s stark and realistic visual style heightens the horror of the supernatural events unfolding on screen. There’s a scene in the film where Father Merrin, played by Max von Sydow, stands in front of the MacNeil residence, a street lamp casting an eerie glow in the foggy night.
Scene from “The Exorcist”: The eerie glow of the streetlamp mirrors Magritte’s paradoxical day and night, setting the stage for a chilling tale of good versus evil.
This iconic scene (also used for the movie poster) pays homage to René Magritte’s “Empire of Light” series. In Empire of Light, each painting in the series features a paradoxical scene where it is simultaneously day and night – the sky is bright and clear as if it’s daytime, while the landscape below is shrouded in the darkness of night, often with a single-lit street lamp. This juxtaposition creates an eerie, dreamlike atmosphere that challenges the viewer’s perception of reality.
Magritte’s signature surrealism style often embodied contrasts and contradictions, combining ordinary objects to create a sense of mystery and intrigue. In “The Exorcist,” the same visual concept was used to create a sense of dread and foreboding, using the bright light from the windows above against the lone streetlamp lit on the dark, desolate street. The use of this visual reference amplifies the film’s underlying theme of the clash between good and evil, light and darkness.
Empire of Light” by René Magritte: A surreal dance of light and darkness that challenges our perception of reality.
William Friedkin, director of the film, commented on that scene during an interview. He said:
“I chose the house to match the Magritte painting. . . I saw [this painting] in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, it’s called Empire of Light by Rene Magritte. I had that in mind, and I chose the house to match the Magritte painting… the streetlamp…the shaft of light.”
Using the same style of juxtaposition as Magritte’s painting helped Friedkin create tension and foreboding seen throughout this film. Whether it’s the contrast of light and dark, old and new, natural and artificial, or any other disparate elements, this technique can be a powerful tool for creating compelling and provocative art.
Also, by referencing a well-known piece of art, “The Exorcist” connects with the audience, adding depth to the film’s visual storytelling. Incorporating references to other works of art can be a way to engage the audience, create a dialogue with other artists, and contributes to the ongoing conversation that is art history.
Inception – A Labyrinth of Dreams and Reality in Visually Stunning Movies
Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is a mind-bending exploration of dreams and reality. This visually stunning movie is characterized by its complex, surreal architecture and mind-bending visuals that defy the laws of physics. The scene where the dream architects fold the city onto itself is a clear homage to M.C. Escher.
Scene from “Inception”: The city folds onto itself, creating a multi-dimensional dreamscape that echoes the impossible spaces of Escher’s work.
Escher’s work is renowned for exploring impossible spaces and optical illusions, often playing with perspective and gravity to create mind-bending visual paradoxes. “Relativity” is a prime example of this, featuring a labyrinthine structure where staircases ascend and descend in various directions, defying the laws of gravity and normal spatial orientation.
“Relativity” by M.C. Escher: A mind-bending labyrinth of staircases that defy the laws of gravity and spatial orientation.
In Inception, Nolan employs similar visual trickery. The cityscape folds and twists in impossible ways, creating a multi-dimensional space that simultaneously feels possible and impossible. The scene is difficult for our minds to comprehend, much like the world depicted in Relativity. The scene is a visual spectacle and serves the narrative by symbolizing the boundless possibilities within the dream world.
In an interview with “Wired,” Nolan spoke about the influence of paradoxical architecture on the film and stated, “In trying to write a team-based creative process, I wrote the one I know.” Noting that he and his team “liked the idea of exploring paradoxical architecture,” the concept became a key element in the film. The visual correlation between Escher’s “Relativity” and the dream architecture in “Inception” is unmistakable.
For fine artists, the “Inception” and “Relativity” examples offer valuable insights into the power of perspective and the manipulation of space. By referencing “Relativity,” “Inception” brings these impossible spaces to life, creating a visual spectacle that serves the film’s narrative about the malleability of dreams.
Although these surrealist works go to the extreme in manipulating perspective and space, the same idea can be used in non-surrealist works to provide unusual viewpoints, adding a sense of intrigue and dynamism to other traditional art styles.
The impossible, labyrinthine architecture also serves as a visual metaphor for the complexity and unpredictability of the human mind. Artists should consider how visual elements can provide more than aesthetic value or overt narrative context. They can also convey deeper meanings, alternate themes, or subtexts, making the artwork more interesting and evocative.
There Will Be Blood – The Struggle of Man and Nature
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” is a captivating film that delves into the ruthless world of oil drilling in the early 20th century. This beautiful movie’s visual style is stark and gritty, reflecting the harsh realities of its setting and pays homage to the works of Charles Marion Russell.
“Jerked Down” by Charles Marion Russell: A dramatic depiction of the struggle between man and nature in the American West.
Russell’s work often captures the dramatic tension and struggle between man and nature in the American West as exemplified in works like “Jerked Down,” depicting a cowboy being thrown off his horse amidst a thunderstorm – a powerful representation of this struggle. In There Will Be Blood, the scene where an oil derrick catches fire and creates a towering inferno against the barren landscape is reminiscent of Russell’s painting both in style and content.
Scene from “There Will Be Blood”: The towering inferno of the oil derrick, a stark symbol of man’s destructive ambition, mirrors the tension and drama of Russell’s painting.
Both works use light and shadow to heighten the tension and drama of their respective scenes. In “Jerked Down,” Russell uses stark contrasts between the dark stormy sky and the lightning-lit foreground to create a sense of impending danger. Similarly, in “There Will Be Blood,” the scene of the burning oil derrick is dramatically lit, with the fiery glow of the inferno starkly contrasted against the dark, barren landscape. This creates a visually striking image that underscores the danger and destruction caused by something uncontrollable.
Additionally, both works use composition to emphasize the scale and power of nature compared to man. In “Jerked Down,” the cowboy is depicted as small and vulnerable against the vast, stormy landscape, emphasizing the power of the natural elements he is up against. Similarly, in “There Will Be Blood,” the oil derrick, while man-made, is dwarfed by the towering inferno, symbolizing nature’s overwhelming response to man’s intrusion.
These similarities in the use of light, shadow, and composition create a visual link between the two works, suggesting a stylistic influence or at least a shared visual language in their depiction of man’s struggle against nature.
The visual elements create drama and a sense of tension but, more importantly, have a huge impact on the narrative. Depicting a struggle between opposing forces can add a sense of dynamism and narrative to an artwork.
Imagine the same scene in Anderson’s film, but instead of the character being small compared to the fiery event, the main character was in the full frame looking up at the fiery plume, which from that perspective, would be far above in the background of the shot. Such a change would remove the idea of a struggle between forces and minimize the metaphor of the oil derrick representing the protagonist’s destructive ambition.
Melancholia – a Psychological Masterpiece of Beauty and Despair
Lars von Trier’s “Melancholia” explores its characters’ psychological and emotional turmoil against the backdrop of an impending planetary collision. This beautiful movie’s visual style is lush and dreamlike, reflecting the inner worlds of its characters. One of the film’s most memorable scenes is directly inspired by John Everett Millais’ “Ophelia,” a painting that depicts the tragic heroine from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” floating in a stream before her death.
“Ophelia” by John Everett Millais: A serene yet tragic scene that captures the beauty and despair of its titular character.
The painting is renowned for its detailed and emotive depiction of the famous character and for its lush, vibrant colors, intricate details, and sense of serene despair. In Melancholia, von Trier captures a similar mood in the scene where Justine, played by Kirsten Dunst, also floats in a stream surrounded by flowers and foliage. Justine’s floating figure, the serene water, and the surrounding nature all mirror the composition and mood of “Ophelia.” The scene is visually striking and serves the narrative by symbolizing Justine’s despair and resignation in the face of the impending planetary collision.
Scene from “Melancholia”: Justine floats in a stream, her despair and resignation in the face of impending doom mirroring the tragic serenity of Millais’ Ophelia.
The Pre-Raphaelite style that Millais helped pioneer, characterized by its vibrant colors, attention to detail, and emphasis on emotion, is apparent throughout the film, and the visual correlation between this particular scene and the painting is unmistakable.
By referencing Ophelia, Melancholia brings the beauty and tragedy of Earth’s impending doom to life, creating a visual spectacle that serves the film’s narrative about the psychological impact of the event.
The Whispering Wheat Fields of “Days of Heaven”
In the world of beautiful movies, Terrence Malick’s “Days of Heaven” stands as a testament to the power of visual poetry. The film’s imagery, a symphony of natural light and earthy tones, seems to whisper stories of the American heartland, echoing the quiet intensity of Andrew Wyeth’s painting “Christina’s World.”
“Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth: A quiet yet intense depiction of solitude and longing in the vast, open landscape.
“Days of Heaven” is a cinematic canvas where the characters are painted against the vast, open landscapes, much like the solitary figure in Wyeth’s work. The characters, dwarfed by their surroundings, become part of the landscape, their stories intertwined with the whispering wheat fields and the ever-changing sky, where humans are but a small part of the larger natural world.
Just as Wyeth captured the subtle play of light and shadow on the grass and Christina’s dress, Malick uses the soft, diffused light of dawn and dusk to paint his scenes, lending them an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. This masterful use of light enhances the film’s visual appeal and adds depth to its narrative, reflecting the characters’ hopes, dreams, and inevitable disillusionments.
Scene from “Days of Heaven”: The characters, dwarfed by their surroundings, become part of the landscape, their stories whispered by the wheat fields and the ever-changing sky, echoing the quiet intensity of Wyeth’s painting.
The visual language of “Days of Heaven” speaks volumes about its influences. While Malick is a man of few words, letting his films speak for themselves, the cinematographer Nestor Almendros once mentioned that Malick wanted the film to resemble an “old family album.” This desire to capture the past’s fleeting, ephemeral moments resonates strongly with the nostalgic undertones of Wyeth’s work, suggesting a shared artistic vision.
So, what can fine artists glean from this? First, the power of light. Just as Malick and Wyeth used light to infuse their work with a certain mood, artists can experiment with light in their own work to create a specific atmosphere or to highlight certain aspects of their subject. Second, the importance of the environment. “Days of Heaven” and “Christina’s World” shows how the setting can become a character in its own right, influencing the work’s narrative and emotional tone. Artists can think about how the environment interacts with their subjects and how it can be used to convey deeper meanings and themes.
The Enduring Dialogue Between Cinema and Fine Art
The intersection of cinema and fine art is a fascinating exchange that enriches both mediums. As we’ve seen in these examples, beautiful movies like “The Exorcist,” “Inception,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Melancholia,” and “Days of Heaven” have drawn inspiration from fine art masterpieces, creating visually captivating films that audiences will enjoy for decades.
These films demonstrate how the language of fine art – its techniques, motifs, and themes – or its basic principles – such as composition, color, light, and symbolism – can be applied to other mediums to convey emotion, tell stories, and engage audiences.
Ultimately, the dialogue between cinema and fine art is a testament to the power of creativity and the endless possibilities of artistic expression. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a fine artist, or simply an art lover, there’s much to learn and appreciate in this fascinating intersection of art and cinema. For the Silo, Steve Schlackman/artrepreneur.
Presenters at last year’s C.D. Howe Institute’s conference on Canada’s debt problem had some pointed advice for our federal and provincial governments:
Canada’s public debt should be reduced about 10 percentage points of Canada’s GDP to ensure fiscal policy can be used to cushion the effects of future economic crises. Since major crises happen frequently, prudence suggests that the target should be achieved before the decade is out.
Tax increases harm economic performance, so elimination of public spending that does not provide enough benefits to offset this damage should be the first step in reducing deficits and debt. This will require undertaking comprehensive value-for-money assessments to identify wasteful spending.
Post-conference analysis found that achieving this prudent debt target would require increasing the combined federal-provincial primary balance by 1.4 percent of GDP, or $43 billion, starting in 2025/26. This amount includes a buffer – ensuring an 80 percent probability of meeting the debt target – to account for inevitable economic downturns, other crises that raise deficits and debt, and the uncertainty posed by fluctuating interest rates on financing costs.
The conference was one of four on deficits and debt held in Canada over the past 40 years. A clear and consistent message from these conferences – which politicians have yet to fully absorb – is that debt has economic costs and, therefore, imposes a burden on future generations. In this Commentary, the authors report on, and offer their analysis of, the findings of the latest conference.
Introduction
Does Canada have a debt problem? The answer from a recent C.D. Howe Institute conference is a resounding “yes.” Canada’s public debt should be about 10 percentage points of GDP lower to ensure sustainability. Given that major crises, which put upward pressure on deficits and debt, happen frequently, this target should be achieved before the decade is out.
The May 2024 conference was one of four on deficits and debt held in Canada over the past 40 years. Each aimed to provide guidance to policymakers on managing deficits and debt. While a common thread was concern about the economic cost of public debt, each conference provided context-specific policy advice.
The first conference, “Deficits: How Big and How Bad?” (Conklin and Courchene 1983), occurred when debt levels were rising rapidly but still relatively low. The key policy issue then was whether fiscal consolidation or expansion to support the economy was appropriate.
In the 1994 conference, “Deficit Reduction – What Pain, What Gain?” (Robson and Scarth 1994), and the 2002 conference, “Is the Debt War Over?” (Ragan and Watson 2004), there were clear recommendations to reduce debt levels. In 1994, this was motivated by concerns over economic damage caused by debt approaching 100 percent of GDP and questions about fiscal sustainability. By 2002, although the debt ratio had fallen substantially, further debt reduction was still advocated to reduce the burden on future generations who will not benefit from the spending.
A combination of discretionary measures and sustained economic growth led to a substantial reduction in the combined federal-provincial debt ratio from 2002 until the global financial crisis of 2007-2009. The debt ratio stabilized at a relatively high level after the crisis until the pandemic. The massive increase in debt during the pandemic and subsequent government spending raised the overall federal-provincial net debt ratio to about 75 percent of GDP, nearing levels from the time of the “Debt War” conference. This surge, combined with concerns about further increases, refocused attention on debt sustainability. This concern was reflected in the May conference, “Does Canada Have a Debt Problem?”, which recommended a debt target based on the need for fiscal prudence.
The latest conference included sessions on the economic costs of debt, the sustainability of federal debt, guidance for policymakers on a prudent and fair debt target, and reforming the federal fiscal framework. However, given the one-day format, not all issues could be thoroughly addressed. This report not only summarizes the proceedings but also fills some gaps by providing additional analysis to complement the presenters’ advice.
Economic Costs of Public Debt
Interest expenses were central to the analysis by University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe of the economic costs of public debt. Interest paid on the public debt is often considered a transfer among individuals with no real impact on the economy. However, higher interest payments for a given level of program spending necessitate higher taxes, which harm economic performance by affecting incentives to work, save and invest. If not financed by tax increases, higher interest payments will crowd out valued program spending.
When discussing the opportunity cost of interest payments – the benefits of lower tax rates or higher program spending – Tombe cited work by Dahlby and Ferede (2022). They estimate the economic cost of raising an extra dollar of tax revenue, referred to as the “marginal cost of public funds” (MCPF). The MCPF includes both the dollar taken from the private sector and the loss in output per dollar of tax revenue raised due to reduced incentives to work, save and invest. Higher taxes shrink the tax base not only because of reduced economic activity but also due to efforts to reduce taxable income without changing economic behaviour.
Dahlby and Ferede (2022) find a very high cost from raising taxes. For the corporate income tax, the federal MCPF in 2021 was approximately two.1The MCPF from raising the top federal personal income tax rate has been higher than its corporate tax counterpart since 2012, when the corporate tax rate was reduced to 15 percent. The gap increased in 2016 when the top federal marginal personal income tax rate increased to 33 percent, pushing the MCPF to about 2.9.
The federal government expects to pay $54.1 billion in public debt charges in the current fiscal year. The economic cost of these payments is substantial. If the opportunity cost of these payments is lower corporate income taxes, their economic cost would also be about $54 billion. If their opportunity cost is a lower top personal income tax rate, their economic cost would exceed $100 billion. If the contribution from corporate income and top personal income tax were equal, the economic cost would be about $75 billion.
Other costs of public debt arise from a reduction in the national savings rate, which is the sum of public and private sector savings rates. Government deficits represent public sector dissaving, so with a constant private savings rate, national savings will decline when governments run deficits. Tombe highlighted the impact of lower national savings on investment, presenting data showing a negative correlation between debt ratios and investment ratios across countries (Figure 1). He stated there is “probably” a causal relationship between higher debt ratios and lower investment ratios.
Although Tombe did not elaborate, there are reasons to be circumspect about asserting causality. One reason is that the private savings rate may rise in response to budget deficits if economic agents anticipate higher future taxes to service the debt. Households might increase savings in anticipation, partially offsetting the decline in national savings. There is evidence that expansionary fiscal policy is partially offset by increased household savings. Johnson (2004) concluded that household savings would increase by 30-50 percent of the increase in government debt. In a recent study of fiscal expansions in the Euro area from 1999 to 2019, Checherita-Westphal and Stechert (2021) found that 19 percent of a fiscal stimulus is offset by higher household savings in the short-term, rising to 41 percent in the long-term.
Another reason for being cautious about inferring causality is that in an open economy, a decline in national savings does not necessarily lead to lower domestic investment, as any shortfall can be offset by borrowing from abroad. However, interest payments on borrowed funds and the return on foreign-owned capital reduce national income. An additional cost arises because the resulting current account deterioration must be offset by higher net exports, which requires a reduction in real wages in the export sector.
To complement Tombe’s analysis, we present an estimate of the economic cost of reduced national savings. In a closed economy with constant household savings, a budget deficit leads to a dollar-for-dollar crowding out of investment. Using historical returns on capital and assuming that national savings decline by 60 percent of the deficit due to offsetting increases in household savings, the $1,372 billion in federal net debt in the current fiscal year would have an economic cost of about $90 billion.2 This calculation does not capture the impact of lower capital intensity on productivity, so it underestimates the true cost.
If foreign savings offset the decline in national savings and foreigners invest directly in Canada, they receive the return on this capital, so the gross economic cost remains the same. However, the return is subject to corporate income tax, so the net economic cost would be about 25 percent lower. If Canadian firms borrow abroad to finance domestic investment, the economic cost is the interest paid to foreigners. While gross interest payments to foreigners will be less than the return on capital unless there is a large country-risk premium, interest payments are taxed more lightly.3 Therefore, the net economic cost may not differ substantially.
An additional cost of accessing foreign savings arises because higher capital servicing charges put downward pressure on the current account balance, which must be offset by an increase in net exports. In a small economy, export and import prices are determined in world markets, so the increase in net exports requires a decline in real wages in the export sector. However, if a country’s exports have unique features, increased supply can lower export prices, adding to the economic cost of borrowing from abroad (Burgess 1996).
Calculating the economic cost of investment crowding out when foreign borrowing is possible as the net-of-tax return on capital paid to foreigners establishes a minimum cost because it excludes the reductions in real wages required to increase net exports. The minimum cost would, therefore, be 0.75 x $90 billion = $68 billion, where the $90 billion reflects the economic cost of lower investment, adjusted by a factor of 0.75 to represent corporate income taxes on the returns paid to foreign investors. The $75 billion cost associated with raising taxes to finance higher federal interest expenses does not change with the availability of foreign financing, so the overall cost of the federal debt is approximately $142 billion, or 4.7 percent of GDP in 2024/25.
A similar calculation can be performed for overall provincial debt. In 2021/22, provincial net debt amounted to $784.7 billion, with debt service charges of $30.6 billion. Using the same weighted average economic cost of taxation as for the federal government, the economic cost of provincial debt service charges was $42 billion. The cost of investment crowding out adds another $39 billion, bringing the total cost of debt at the provincial level to $81 billion, or 3.2 percent of GDP in 2021/22. Assuming provincial debt remains at the same percentage of GDP from 2021/22 to 2024/25, the overall cost of Canada’s debt is about 8 percent of GDP.
Benefits of Debt and Its Optimal Level
Tombe also discussed the benefits of public debt, noting its role in financing long-lived assets, stabilizing the economy and smoothing tax rates over time. Governments should borrow to finance investments that will benefit future generations and should finance current expenditures out of current taxes. Spending on education, health and knowledge creation raises special concerns because it benefits both current and future generations. However, since each generation must make these investments, financing them through current revenues typically aligns with the benefit principle.
Counter-cyclical fiscal policy enhances social well-being by mitigating costly deviations from full employment. Additionally, governments can reduce the harmful effects of distortionary taxes by keeping them stable. Since the efficiency cost of taxes is higher when rates are above average than when rates are below average,4 governments should set tax rates at levels sufficient to support expected spending over the cycle and allow deficits to rise and fall in response to unexpected expenditures.5
An issue absent from discussions at the conference was the role of public debt in addressing market imperfections, which can improve efficiency. One such imperfection is the lack of adequate insurance markets against individual-specific wage income losses. As a result, individuals “self-insure” by increasing savings, which is more costly than paying the premiums in a well-functioning insurance market. Public debt puts upward pressure on interest rates and provides a safe savings instrument, allowing households to reduce their savings closer to the efficient level.
Unlike the efficiency gains from using public debt to stabilize the economy and smooth tax rates, mitigating the impact of inadequate insurance markets may justify a permanent increase in public debt. With a well-functioning insurance market, the optimal public debt ratio would be negative – governments should be net savers rather than net debtors. This would allow governments to finance expenditures from interest received on assets rather than from distortionary taxes.6
Empirical issues raised by the inadequate insurance-market approach include whether correcting the market failure is sufficient to make the optimal debt ratio positive and whether the penalty for deviating from the optimal ratio is significant enough to affect the choice of a debt target. Early analyses of incomplete markets found a positive optimal debt ratio. For instance, Aiyagari and McGrattan (1998) calculated an optimal debt ratio of 66 percent of GDP for the US economy. However, Peterman and Sager (2018), using a model with many of the same features as Aiyagari and McGrattan but incorporating multiple generations with standard life cycles instead of a single generation with an infinite life span, found that net government saving is optimal in the US economy. The main reason for the different result is that individuals in a life-cycle model spend a substantial fraction of their working lives accumulating enough savings to make self-insurance possible, so the benefit from self-insurance is smaller than if infinite life spans are assumed.
These results are less relevant for Canada for two reasons. First, employment insurance and other income support measures are more generous in Canada, so self-insurance leading to excess saving is less of an issue. Second, the US analysis assumes deficits are financed entirely by domestic savings, which is a much less realistic assumption for Canada. Foreign borrowing reduces the optimal debt ratio because it lessens the upward pressure on interest rates, which diminishes the impact of public debt on “self-insurance” savings and raises the cost of debt. James and Karam (2001) modified the Aiyagari and McGrattan model to allow borrowing from abroad, which changes the optimal debt ratio from 66 percent to about -80 percent. This qualitative result – that access to foreign savings reduces the optimal debt ratio – has been confirmed by other researchers (Nakajima and Takahashi 2017; Okamoto 2024; and Cozzi 2022).
This review suggests that the inadequate-markets approach does not reverse the conclusion from standard models that the optimal debt ratio is negative, implying that welfare gains can be realized when debt levels are reduced. However, the studies reviewed indicate that the penalty for deviating from the optimal debt ratio is small. In three of the six optimal debt studies reviewed, it is possible to compare the estimated economic costs. In the Peterman/Sager and Nakajima/Takahashi studies, a one-percentage-point increase in the debt ratio reduces consumption by .003 percent. The corresponding figure in the Cozzi study is much higher, approximately .02 percent. These estimates are very low relative to the estimates presented earlier, which imply a loss of .05 percent per percentage-point increase in the debt ratio.
It seems likely that these models are substantially understating the cost of debt. The benefits would have to be understated by an even larger percentage to overturn the conclusion that governments should be creditors not debtors. Since the argument for incurring debt to improve market efficiency is weak, the debt ratio should be chosen by considering only its impact on generational fairness. However, since debt is one of several factors affecting generational transfers, debt policy may have to deviate from the benefit principle to achieve a desired balance of the well-being of current and future generations.
Sustainability Analysis
High debt also raises concerns about its prudence or sustainability: can the interest expense be financed without requiring tax increases or cuts in program spending in the future? In his presentation, Alex Laurin, the Institute’s Vice President and Director of Research, challenged the federal budget’s claim that federal public finances are sustainable (Canada 2024, 382). The federal government’s sustainability claim is based on long-term projections showing a continuously declining debt-to-GDP ratio, reaching nine percent by 2055/56. Moreover, this trend holds even with less optimistic assumptions about interest rates and economic growth.
Laurin argued that this projection is not a convincing demonstration of sustainability for three reasons:
1) Interest Rate Assumptions: In the base case, the effective interest rate on federal debt (r) remains below the growth rate of the economy (g) for 32 years, which puts continuous downward pressure on the debt ratio. This assumption is inconsistent with the historical record. Over the past 35 and 45 years ending in 2022/23, averages of r-g are positive, at 0.8 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively. Only when the averaging period is extended back to include the high-inflation period starting in the 1970s does the multi-year average turn negative.7
2) Program Spending Assumptions: While revenues are assumed to grow in line with GDP, program spending decreases by about one percentage point of GDP over the projection period, causing the primary surplus to rise and putting downward pressure on the debt ratio. A more realistic “no policy change” assumption would keep the share of program spending roughly constant, allowing an assessment of the sustainability of current spending levels.
3) Exclusion of Economic Downturns: The projection fails to explicitly include economic downturns. Over the last 60 years, Canada has experienced five recessions, each prompting discretionary temporary stimulus measures that permanently increased debt. The policy response averaged 1.09 percentage points of potential GDP for each percentage point deviation from potential GDP (Table 1).
Laurin presented an alternative debt projection, assuming that overall program spending grows in line with GDP from 2029/30 to 2055/56 and that r equals g on average over the projection period.8 With these changes, the decline in the federal debt ratio is less pronounced, reaching 29 percent in 2055/56 compared to 9 percent in the budget projection.
Economic downturns were included in the projection by simulating 1,000 random probabilistic scenarios – assuming the frequency and magnitude of recessions over the past 60 years are representative of the future. Laurin assessed debt sustainability by calculating the probability that the debt ratio remains at or falls below its initial value over the projection period.9 The simulations showed an even chance that the debt ratio will exceed its 2028/29 value late in the projection period. Under the International Monetary Fund’s classification (IMF 2022), Canada’s federal debt would be considered unsustainable.
Some conference participants suggested that Laurin’s analysis might not fully capture the risks associated with the federal fiscal position because it assesses a single r-g profile. They also emphasized the importance of including provincial and territorial governments in any sustainability analysis, as these levels are most affected by demographic aging.
For this report, Laurin modified his approach to include provincial and territorial governments’ net debt and to capture the risks of r-g deviating from its assumed zero average over the long term. He introduced variability in the interest-rate growth-rate gap based on historical data, allowing for a more comprehensive risk assessment (methods and assumptions are provided in Appendix).
The modified analysis showed that, without any simulated shocks, the combined federal and provincial/territorial net debt-to-GDP ratio initially declines and then stabilizes until 2041/42, when rising healthcare costs due to demographic aging – and the associated interest on provincial debt – cause it to rise steadily (Figure 2, black dashed line). Introducing interest rate and recession shocks significantly alters the outlook, indicating a 50 percent chance that the debt ratio will begin its long-term rise in 2035/36, eventually surpassing 100 percent of GDP (black dotted line). There is a 20 percent chance (the 80th percentile) that the debt ratio will not decrease substantially from its current level and start a steady increase in 2033/34 (grey dotted line). Conversely, there is only a 20 percent chance (the 20th percentile) that the ratio will stay below its near-term value for the entire projection period (gold dotted line).
A Prudent and Fair Target
Prudence
According to McGill economist Christopher Ragan, the main concern about Canada’s high public debt is that it will reduce our ability to borrow to address the next economic crisis. He analysed this issue using three zones for the debt ratio: red (top), yellow (middle) and green (bottom) (Figure 3). The red (top) zone, which represents unsustainable debt, starts roughly five percentage points below the 1995 federal-provincial debt ratio’s peak of 100 percent, when Canada entered a period of “forced austerity.” This entry point to the red (top) zone is higher than the 90 percent threshold for negative effects on growth developed by Reinhart and Rogoff (2010). However, the threshold would be lower if the interest rate on public debt (r) were higher than the rate of economic growth (g).
Ragan argued that the current combined federal-provincial debt-to-GDP ratio is in the yellow (middle) “cautionary” zone. The height of this zone is determined by the buffer required to avoid being pushed into the red (top) zone by an economic crisis. Entering the red (top) zone would mean sharply higher interest rates and lower growth.
To avoid this, Ragan set the buffer at 28 percentage points of GDP, about a quarter more than the increase in the debt ratio during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the frequency of economic crises, he advocated returning to the green (bottom) zone by 2029/30, nine years after the end of the pandemic-induced recession. This requires reducing the federal-provincial debt ratio by about 10 percentage points.
Laurin followed up by determining the fiscal effort required to return to the green (bottom) zone with high probability. His calculations show that, starting in the next fiscal year (2025/26), the combined federal-provincial primary balance would need to increase permanently by 1.38 percent of GDP – or $42.9 billion in 2025/26.10 If implemented through spending reductions, provincial spending would have to decline by about 7 percent, or federal spending would have to fall by almost 9 percent. Note that such spending reductions would still not fully return the combined federal-provincial program spending/GDP ratio to its pre-pandemic 2018/19 value. The federal government could achieve the same effect by raising the GST to 8.5 percent. However, since most spending pressures from an aging population are on provincial governments, it would be sound policy for the federal government to transfer tax points to provincial governments (Kim and Dougherty 2020). Even with near-term fiscal adjustment, additional consolidation may be necessary in the future to prevent a rise in the debt/GDP ratio.
Ragan favoured achieving the debt target through expenditure restraint rather than raising taxes, which he thinks may have reached their limit. Restraining expenditures will be particularly challenging given medium-term pressures from an aging society, rising military and security needs, and potentially increased public investments for the transition to a green economy. Canada, therefore, needs an ongoing and thorough program review to identify low-priority spending.
Fairness
Financing current government spending with debt is generally considered fair if the debt-to-GDP ratio is constant or declining over time, implying that future generations can receive the same level of government services without facing higher tax rates. However, stable tax rates alone are insufficient to prevent intergenerational transfers. Taxes must increase to finance the interest on the debt or remain higher than they would be otherwise. If the tax increase applies to both current and future generations, tax rates would be stable but higher than they would be without the increased debt. The higher tax rates required to finance debt interest and the deficit-induced reduction in national-savings transfer part of the cost of government spending to future generations who do not benefit from the spending.
Assessing generational fairness requires understanding the extent of intergenerational transfers resulting from fiscal policy. The presentation by Parisa Mahboubi, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Institute, offered insights into this issue using generational accounts. These accounts show lifetime net taxes imposed by federal and provincial governments for each birth cohort from 1923 to 2023 and for a composite future generation consisting of all persons born after 2023. The lifetime tax burdens of the 2023 birth cohort and future generations are comparable because a complete life cycle is captured in both cases. Her analysis shows that future generations are expected to face a slightly higher lifetime net tax burden than the youngest living generation.
Preparing generational accounts requires information on lifetime taxes and transfers for each birth cohort alive today and for future generations. Projected values of taxes paid by current birth cohorts are developed based on age-specific profiles of different types of taxes,11 assuming unchanged tax policies. Spending on health, education, elderly benefits, child benefits, social assistance and GST credits vary by age, while other government expenditures are evenly distributed per capita. Per capita taxes, transfers and expenditures are assumed to grow at the same rate as productivity.
The lifetime net tax burdens for currently alive birth cohorts are calculated as the present value of projected tax payments less the present value of projected government transfers the cohort will receive. Lifetime net tax burdens of future generations are calculated using the “no free lunch” constraint: someone, sometime, must pay for all that the government spends (US Congressional Budget Office 1995). The lifetime net tax burden of future generations equals the amount of future spending not paid by currently alive generations.12
In the baseline scenario, productivity grows 0.94 percent annually, the average GDP per capita growth from 2002 to 2022. The discount rate is the average return on real return bonds over the same period, 1.3 percent.13 Statistics Canada’s medium-growth scenario14 is used for demographic projections, with population growing at an average annual rate of 0.85 percent over the 100-year projection, driven entirely by net immigration. The ratio of those over 65 to those aged 18-65 – the old-age dependency ratio – more than doubles over the projection period, rising from 30 percent to 72 percent (Figure 4).
The increase in the old-age dependency ratio drives upward trends in elderly benefits and health-related expenditures as a share of GDP. Other categories of age-specific spending remain roughly constant.
In the baseline scenario, the lifetime net tax burden of future generations (“unborn”) exceeds that of the cohort born in 2023 (“newborn”) by $23,000 per person (Figure 5). Factors influencing this result include:15
Fiscal Position in the Base Year: In 2023, federal and provincial tax revenues exceeded program spending by over one percent of GDP. A smaller primary surplus would have decreased the lifetime net tax burden of the newly born, increasing the burden on the unborn.
Population Growth: Faster population growth reduces the relative tax burden on future generations by slowing the rise in the old-age dependency ratio and reducing the per-capita burden of existing debt.
Healthcare Costs: If real healthcare costs increase faster than productivity growth, the recently born will pay a smaller share, leaving more for future generations.
The baseline assumptions represent the midpoint of a range of plausible values. While results are sensitive to changes in assumptions, the baseline is considered the most likely outcome. The generational accounts, therefore, suggest that fiscal policy is generationally fair.
However, other factors must be considered when assessing fairness:
Population Stability: If there were no net population growth, the tax burden on future generations would be much higher, even if the old-age dependency ratio did not change, because the cost of existing debt would be spread over a smaller population. This observation draws attention to the fact that future generations will be paying for services they did not receive, even with stable lifetime net taxes.
Income Growth: Future generations will likely be richer due to productivity growth, which could justify asking them to bear some costs of current consumption. However, parents may not wish to pass on costs to their children, even if incomes are rising over time. Population growth through immigration substantially reduces intergenerational linkages, which could encourage the current generation to increase the target size of intergenerational transfers.
New Spending Pressures: The generational accounts do not capture new pressures like rising military and security commitments or higher spending to achieve a net-zero emissions economy. In both cases, underspending in the past has pushed costs into the future. Pre-funding some of this spending by increasing taxes in the near term would even out contributions across generations.
Comparisons with Near Term Future Generations: Generational accounts compare a representative future generation with the most recent birth cohort. Comparing the tax burden of living generations with the burden on near-term future generations is also relevant.
While the generational accounts indicate that the federal-provincial fiscal stance is fair to future generations under current assumptions, it is beneficial to supplement this analysis with assessments over shorter time horizons. For example, virtually all living generations benefited from the debt-financed income stabilization and health measures implemented during the pandemic-induced recession. There is a strong fairness argument for paying down pandemic-related debt before the next generation starts working and paying taxes, which would occur over the 2035-to-2045 period (Lester 2021).
Federal and provincial Covid-related spending amounted to approximately $430 billion from 2020/21 to 2022/23.16 Federal and provincial debt was $2,092 million in 2022/23. Reducing the level of debt to $1,660 million no later than 2045/46 would be fair to generations born in 2019 and later. However, in Laurin’s prudent scenario, in which debt is sustainable with 80 percent probability, the level of debt rises continuously over the projection period. The gap between the prudent and fair level of debt is $1,200 million in 2035/36. Achieving a fair level of debt would require more fiscal consolidation than is needed to achieve sustainability.
Reforming Expenditure Management
Ragan’s debt target and the recommendation to achieve it through expenditure restraint raise two issues:
1) Building Consensus: How to build a consensus on the proposed debt target and increase the likelihood of achieving it.
2) Identifying Savings: How to identify programs that don’t provide enough value to justify raising taxes to finance them.
Economist and C.D. Howe Institute Fellow-in-Residence John Lester emphasized that achieving a political consensus on a more prudent fiscal approach requires vigorous and sustained advocacy. Part of this advocacy involves convincing governments to surrender some policy flexibility to increase the odds of achieving the target reduction in debt and reduce the risk of relapse after the next crisis.
Lester and Laurin (2023) propose a principles-based fiscal governance framework intended to reduce the bias toward deficit financing in both good times and bad. Governments should adopt guiding principles for fiscal policy, set operational rules for achieving target outcomes and transparently assess consistency with these principles.
At the conference, Lester expanded upon one element of the governance framework: a binding multi-year ceiling on non-cyclical spending. A key motivation for this proposal is the failure to adhere to spending tracks set out in budgets and fiscal updates. For example, in the federal government’s 2019 Economic and Fiscal Update, program spending was projected to decline as a share of GDP, reaching 13.8 percent by 2024/25. The spending ratio projected for 2024/25 increased in successive budgets so that in 2024-25 it will be almost 2 percentage points higher than projected in 2019.18
Binding multi-year expenditure ceilings apply in 11 OECD member countries (Moretti, Keller, and Majercak 2023).19 In the Netherlands and Switzerland, the ceilings are set out in legislation that constrains expenditure growth. Alberta has recently adopted a similar approach.20 However, in most countries, expenditure ceilings are set by the government to ensure consistency with its self-defined fiscal objectives, which may or may not include expenditure restraint. This is the general approach recommended for Canada, although the hope is that the self-defined objective will be to achieve the debt target through expenditure restraint.
The expenditure ceiling would be binding for five years, ideally developed in the first year of a new electoral mandate after a campaign outlining spending plans in detail. The ceiling would cover all categories of spending directly affected by policy decisions. It would be updated annually to account for forecasting errors in program determinants (e.g., inflation, population growth). There would be escape clauses for major economic recessions, natural disasters and war. The ceiling could include a reserve for new policy initiatives, but in the context of expenditure restraint new initiatives may need to be funded by eliminating or modifying existing programs.
Identifying the programs that should be scaled back or eliminated because they don’t provide enough benefits to justify raising taxes to finance them requires, according to Lester, an overhaul of the way the government manages its spending, particularly the performance management framework that is key to establishing value for money. Yves Giroux set the stage for this discussion by describing the federal government’s current expenditure management system.
The requirement to evaluate programs was formalized following the creation of the Office of the Comptroller General in 1978. Despite several modifications, program evaluations have not been successful in affecting strategic spending decisions. The Ministerial Task Force on Program Review (the Nielsen Task Force) from 1984 to 1986 described evaluations as “generally useless and inadequate for the work of program review” (quoted in Grady and Phidd 1993). More recently, McDavid et al. (2018, 302) conclude that evaluations do not “address questions that would be asked as cabinet decision-makers choose among programs and policies.”
Under the current evaluation policy, federal government departments have considerable flexibility in conducting evaluations. They may focus on design and delivery, program beneficiary responses or a comparison of program costs and benefits. A review of 48 evaluations prepared since 2020 in eight departments21 found that only four went beyond assessing operational efficiency and impacts on beneficiaries to examine whether the program represented value for taxpayer money. Three of these applied formal benefit-cost analysis, which is the standard for assessing regulatory proposals.22
Evaluating programs in terms of operational efficiency and beneficiary impacts helps improve programs, but if evaluations are to inform strategic spending decisions, value-for-money assessments must be mandatory. These assessments should be based on the benefit-cost framework applied to regulatory proposals.
Benefit-cost analysis of regulatory proposals – and by extension, spending programs – assesses the overall social benefits and costs of policy initiatives. The quantitative analysis attempts to determine if the economic pie is larger or smaller after government intervention. For example, economic development programs (business subsidies) are implemented with the expectation that they will increase overall real income. To assess this, benefit-cost analysis considers not only the additional investment and employment resulting from the subsidy but also the opportunity cost of workers and capital – the amount that would have been earned otherwise. The net increase in the economic pie is the incremental earnings of workers and capital less efficiency losses from raising taxes or issuing debt to finance the subsidy and resources used to administer and apply for it.
The nature of the assessment should vary by program type. Business subsidies, labour market development programs and climate change mitigation/adaptation measures have benefits and costs measurable in monetary terms. These programs could be ranked by their net social benefits, allowing comparisons within and across program categories. Programs where benefits are less than costs would be candidates for elimination or modification.
A more nuanced approach is needed when assessing social programs and other measures with a fairness goal for several reasons. Their economic impact is ambiguous, and a negative economic impact is not a sufficient reason to eliminate a program. In addition, support for an income redistribution program depends on who benefits from it. As a result, evaluations of social programs should be more descriptive than prescriptive. They should present information on the economic impacts of measures, their fiscal cost, including administration expenses, and a discussion of who benefits from the program and how they benefit. Evaluations should also assess how the program fits into other measures providing support to the target population. This information will allow elected officials and, since all evaluations would be made public, Canadians, generally, to form an evidence-based opinion on the value for money of social programs.
A thorough assessment of government programs through a value-for-money lens may not identify enough wasteful spending to achieve deficit and debt targets. If so, tax increases should be used to achieve the objectives.
Adopting and achieving the debt target will require a political commitment that currently does not exist. The task for policy analysts is to help build a consensus on a more prudent approach to fiscal policy and a revamped expenditure management system. According to Lester, this consensus should be ratified by legislation setting out general principles for sound fiscal policy, supplemented with non-legislated operational rules to guide annual policy and monitor progress. This approach would impose discipline on fiscal policy while allowing flexibility to address unexpected developments. Legislation would strengthen the consensus on fiscal prudence and help prevent backsliding by future politicians.
Conclusion
The evidence presented at the conference confirmed that Canada has a debt problem. Existing debt levels are not prudent, and they raise concerns about generational fairness. Prudence requires that Canada’s public debt be reduced by about 10 percentage points of GDP before the decade’s end. This would require increasing the combined federal-provincial primary balance by 1.4 percent of GDP, or $43 billion, starting in 2025/26.
Tax increases harm economic performance, so elimination of public spending that does not provide enough benefits to offset this damage should be the first step in reducing deficits and debt. Identifying wasteful spending will require comprehensive value-for-money assessments. Governments must not take the easy way out by implementing across-the-board spending cuts. Successful expenditure restraint will also require setting binding multi-year expenditure ceilings to prevent governments from spending revenue windfalls or from increasing spending to improve chances of electoral success.
Canada’s public debt is imposing a burden on future generations. A comparison of the lifetime tax burden on the recently born with distant future generations reveals only a small generational transfer in favour of the recently born. However, burden shifting is much larger from currently living generations to persons born shortly after the pandemic-induced recession. The $430 billion in pandemic-related debt should be paid down by the people that benefited from the income stabilization measures. Achieving this fairness objective would require more fiscal consolidation than needed to ensure sustainability of the debt. For the Silo, Alexandre Laurin/John Lester via C.D. Howe Institute.
Appendix: Assumptions and Methods for the Sustainability Analysis
References
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Ambler, Steve, and Craig Alexander. 2015. “One Percent? For Real? Insights from Modern Growth Theory about Future Investment Returns.” E-Brief. Toronto: C.D. Howe Institute. October.
Burgess, David F. 1996. “Fiscal Deficits and Intergenerational Welfare in Almost Small Open Economies.” Canadian Journal of Economics, 885–909.
Canada. 2024. “Budget 2024.” Department of Finance Canada. April.
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Conklin, David, and Thomas Courchene. 1983. “Deficits: How Big and How Bad?” Special Research Report. Toronto: Ontario Economic Council.
Grady, Patrick, and Richard W. Phidd. 1993. “Budget Envelopes, Policy Making and Accountability.” Government and Competitiveness Project, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University. http://global-economics.ca/budgetenvelopes.pdf.
International Monetary Fund (IMF). 2022. “Staff Guidance Note on the Sovereign Risk and Debt Sustainability Framework for Market Access Countries.” 2022–039. IMF Policy Papers.
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Jenkins, Glenn, and Chun-Yan Kuo. 2007. “The Economic Opportunity Cost of Capital for Canada-an Empirical Update.” Queen’s Economics Department Working Paper. Available at: https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/189409.
Kim, Junghum, and Sean Dougherty (eds.) 2020. “Adaptability, accountability and sustainability: Intergovernmental fiscal arrangements in Canada,” in Ageing and Fiscal Challenges across Levels of Government, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Mahboubi, Parisa. 2019. Intergenerational Fairness: Will Our Kids Live Better than We Do? Commentary 529. Toronto: C.D. Howe Institute. January.
McDavid, Jim, Astrid Brousselle, Robert P. Shepherd, and David Zussman. 2018. “Linking Evaluation and Spending Reviews: Challenges and Prospects.” Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation 32 (3): 297–304. https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.43176.
Modigliani, Franco. 1983. “Government Deficits, Inflation and Future Generations.” In Deficits: How Big and How Bad, pp. 55–71.
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The Gibbes Museum of Art presents the world premiere of Statement Pieces: Contemporary Fashion Design and the Gibbes Collection (January 31‒April 27), featuring designer treasures from Barrett Barrera Projects’ acclaimed fashion collection alongside works of art from the Museum’s permanent collection.
Exquisitely designed garments are curated with select artworks spanning from the 1770s to the 2020s. The exhibition is the centerpiece of this year’s Art Charleston, the city’s annual visual arts festival (April 23‒27). Statement Pieces shines a light on extraordinary fashions by Alexander McQueen, Charlie le Mindu, Comme des Garcons, Dapper Dan, Gucci, Molly Goddard, Pam Hogg, Richard Quinn, and Serena Gili.
Their designer looks are paired with artworks by Joan Mitchell, Romare Bearden, Jasper Johns, Barkley Hendricks, Gilbert Stuart, Sir Martin Archer Shee, and Utagawa Hiroshige, plus nationally renowned Southern artists Merton Daniel Simpson, Donté K. Hayes, and Edward Rice, among other artists in the museum show.
Pictured above is Molly Goddard’s green tulle dress with embroidered flowers, from the Autumn/Winter 2017 Collection. The garment is paired with Joan Mitchell’s 1966 painting, titled Series: July 25 I, oil on canvas. In celebration of the artist’s centennial year, the Gibbes Museum is one of eleven American institutions awarded a grant by the Joan Mitchell Foundation. (Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson)
S t a t e m e n t P i e c e s
The exhibition is co-curated by Sara Arnold (Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Gibbes Museum of Art), and Kelly Peck (Chief Curator/Vice President of Barrett Barrera Projects). The gallery settings and staging for these one-of-a-kind pairings were designed by Nic Cherry (Director/Barrett Barrera Projects). Portraits by American and European masters from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries showcase historical figures who were so confidently fashion-forward, they boldly hold their own when positioned next to the high glamour of current fashions.
Their sense of style continues to influence present day fashion designers, centuries later. Abstract mid-twentieth century paintings, and contemporary artworks of today, signal how art and fashion always influenced each other ‒ a theme clearly evident when viewed through this fashion lens.
Pictured above is the 1804 portrait by Gilbert Stuart of Charleston-born General John R. Fenwick (1780-1842), oil on canvas, exhibited alongside Alexander McQueen’s blue velvet embroidered coat with tulle replica dress, from the Autumn/Winter 2008 Collection. (Fashion photo above by Giovanni Giannoni) Pictured below is the red dress from the Comme des Garcons Spring/Summer 2015 Collection, paired with Sanctuary, the stoneware sculpture created by Donté K. Hayes in 2020.
(Fashion photos below by Jonas Gustavsson)
Above: the Museum exhibition pairs Harlem-inspired streetwear by Dapper Dan (pictured left) from his wildly successful 2018 collaboration with Gucci, and the 1972 painting on the right by the late artist Barkley Hendricks, titled Ms. Johnson (Estelle), oil and acrylic on linen canvas.
The Museum purchased this painting with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. During his career, Hendricks influenced Black portraiture and conceptualism, and was known for his life-sized portraits of Black Americans. “The Gibbes Museum of Art is thrilled to kick off the new season by celebrating the many ways art and fashion are forever intertwined in our culture,” says Angela Mack, the President and CEO of the Gibbes Museum. “The dialogues between each artwork and garment create a striking visual courtship between the two art forms.
By pairing these works from our Museum’s permanent collection with the fashions from Barrett Barrera Projects, together we are taking the phrase Statement Pieces to a whole new level,” adds Angela Mack. Pictured below: the 1823 portrait by Thomas Sully of Sarah Reeve Ladson, oil on canvas, with Alexander McQueen’s two-piece floral ensemble with brown leather corset, Spring/Summer 2009 Collection.
(Fashion photos below by Jonas Gustavsson) The curators emphasize a dramatic focus on form, line, shape, texture, and color, creating fresh explorations of the Gibbes Museum’s collection through fashion. Traditional portraits by prominent American and European painters are re-contextualized with modern takes on power-dressing. The longstanding interplay between fine art and contemporary fashion design is showcased by combinations that examine technique, materiality, memory, identity, and style between each of the coupled fashions and artworks.
Pictured below: The 1770 painting by Benjamin West depicts Charleston-born Thomas Middleton, oil on canvas, presented with Gucci’s gold dress with feather embellishments from the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.
The style of sumptuous costume was often used in 18th Century paintings to create an air of pageantry and elegance ‒ a nod to the garment’s assertive provocation of glamour.
(Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson)
Fashion designer Richard Quinn’s sequin embellished floral dress, from his Autumn/Winter 2019 Collection, is shown with Childe Hassam’s 1920 painting, April (The Green Gown), oil on canvas. This painting is unique among the American artist’s work because of its personal subject matter, recreating a moment from the artist’s past ‒ the artwork is believed to be a portrayal of Hassam’s mother in 1859 while she was pregnant with her son. Quinn describes his fashions as being “designed with the most meaningful moments of our lives in mind, inextricably linked with time, place and memory.”
(Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson) Several of the artists in this exhibition use their depictions of dress and fashion to emphasize the personal style of their subjects. The artists also used this emphasis as an expression of their own aesthetic sensibilities. This creativity and flair are comparable to the way modern day stylists and art directors work at fashion shoots today.
Above: The red tartan plaid pleated dress from the Comme des Garcons Spring/Summer 2017 collection is presented alongside the 1820 portrait titled Mrs. George Hall (Jane Ross), by Sir Martin Archer Shee, oil on canvas. Fashion designer Rei Kawakubo’s clothing designs are known for exploring volume and shape, with amplified proportions. In the painting, the artist Martin Archer Shee likely included tartan to denote his subject’s Scottish heritage.
(Fashion photo by Giovanni Giannoni)
Above: The winged figure rising in the center of the 2015 mixed media work They Combined Beauty, by Stephen L. Hayes Jr, calls out to the gold embroidered wings on the black sheath dress by Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 2008 collection.
The many layers of found objects in Hayes’ artwork convey the resilience and strength of the African American community, despite centuries of adversity ‒ from symbols referencing the transatlantic slave passage, to the fight for legal civil rights.
(Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson)
Pictured above: a rare 1800s Japanese color woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai titled South Wind, Clear Dawn (Gaifu kaisei), with Alexander McQueen’s silk ombre kimono dress, Spring/Summer 2008 Collection. McQueen was fascinated with Japanese culture and dress. The visually pronounced gradations in McQueen’s fabric marry well with the color technique effects in Hokusai’s artwork.
(Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson)
Pictured above: visitors to the museum will be able to view one of Romare Bearden’s rarely seen mid-century abstract paintings. Untitled (Green), ca. 1950s, (oil, casein, and colored pencil on canvas, that has been cut and mounted on painted board), is juxtaposed with fashion designer Serena Gili’s golden fiberglass skirt and cashmere beaded top.
Gili’s acclaimed 2012 Collection earned rave reviews. Bearden’s abstract paintings are not usually exhibited to the public, and are heralded as some of his best work by the art critic Roberta Smith.
(Fashion photo by Saga Sig, courtesy of Serena Gili)
Pictured above: Pam Hogg’s “Black Dress #4” from the Spring/Summer 2013 Collection, paired with the 1919 painting Mrs. Asher D. Cohen, by Martha Simkins, oil on canvas. Hogg’s collection was titled “Save Our Souls” when it debuted at London Fashion Week, emphasizing the punk aesthetic and London club scene looks that Hogg is known for. During the historical period when this painting was made, it was common for women to have their portraits painted while in mourning. (Fashion photo courtesy of Pam Hogg)
Above: Merton Daniel Simpson’s 1991 painting titled Grand Dance, oil and Mali hunting cloth, paired with the Alexander McQueen moth print silk dress from the fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. The decade-defining collection was one of the first to feature 3-D printing techniques.
Simpson was born in Charleston in 1928, and was influential in bringing African art into mainstream culture when he opened his art gallery in New York in the 1950s, introducing tribal and African art to museums and collectors. He worked for social justice, incorporating political themes into his art. (Fashion photo by Jonas Gustavsson) For the Silo, Jarrod Barker. @jarrod_barker_
Exhibition Events and Programming
The exhibition comes to life through a series of events and programming from January 31 through April 27. Visit gibbesmuseum.org/programs-events for updated events information.
About Art Charleston 2025
Art Charleston (April 23-27) is the city’s annual visual arts festival, presented by the Gibbes Museum of Art. The five-day celebration features signature events, exhibition tours led by experts, artist lectures, panel discussions, gallery walks, professional workshops, and more. Read the full festival event guide at the link above. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is the Museum’s exhibition Statement Pieces: Contemporary Fashion Design and the Gibbes Collection.
About Barrett Barrera Projects
Barrett Barrera Projects is a cross-disciplinary group of originators who redefine art experiences and push boundaries to explore the continuously expanding spectrum of art forms. We see art where others see separate disciplines. At Barrett Barrera Projects we focus on the intersections, because that’s where new ideas and experiences emerge. Our team produces, manages, consults and advises on emerging contemporary art and non-traditional media. Barrett Barrera Projects offers complex, multi-disciplinary exhibition experiences that challenge the traditional boundaries separating art, fashion, design and performance.
About the Gibbes Museum of Art
The Gibbes Museum of Art, a beacon in the American South for arts and culture since 1858 when the Museum’s art collection was founded as the Carolina Art Association, is heralded as one of the earliest and most longstanding arts institutions in the United States. The Museum’s collection spans 350 years, and features some of America’s most celebrated artists ‒ including contemporary, modern and historical works. With world-class rotating exhibitions and a dynamic visiting artist residency program, the Gibbes is a southern museum with a global perspective. The Museum’s mission is to enhance lives through art by engaging people of every background and experience with art and artists of enduring quality, providing opportunities to learn and discover, to enjoy and be inspired by the creative process. Museum hours and visitor info at: www.gibbesmuseum.org/visit
For many people, the first things that come to mind when asked about Helsinki are its northern location, the happiest people in the world, and functional design.
The Finnish capital’s high-quality and unique food culture, on the other hand, has remained a well-kept secret and often pleasantly surprises visitors to the city. In Helsinki, one can find numerous innovative restaurants, the oldest market halls in the Nordic region, the Teurastamo center of urban and culinary culture, distilleries, microbreweries and other craft companies, such as bakeries and chocolate producers.
“The strengths of Helsinki’s food culture are its versatility, personality and a certain kind of uniqueness that combines local flavours and cultural influences from both East and West with a bold and innovative approach. The level of Helsinki’s top restaurants is illustrated by the fact that one restaurant has been awarded two Michelin stars and five with one Michelin star,” says Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director at the City of Helsinki.
Helsinki wants to focus even more strongly on food tourism
Helsinki is currently implementing its Helsinki Tourism and Events Programme 2022–2026. The programme highlights the city’s vibrant urban culture with its events, visitors and restaurants as a key strategic priority for promoting the city’s vitality and wellbeing. Internationally, food has become an important appeal factor for tourism in recent years.
Restaurants play a key role in the vitality of cities. The restaurants in Helsinki have enormous and partly untapped potential, which can be used together with partners to develop the city as an attractive destination providing wonderful experiences for visitors. Helsinki will highlight the best aspects of the city as a food travel destination at the Matka Nordic Travel Fairthis month by setting up Helsinki Food Court in cooperation with Food Camp Finland and Messukeskus.
The Matka Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki is the largest tourism industry event in Northern Europe. In connection with the travel fair, Helsinki will also launch its own food culture strategy work. The aim is to make Helsinki a world-class food city of interest.
Finnjävel brings traditional Finnish dishes into the 21st century and to London
One of the advocates of Helsinki’s developing restaurant and food culture is Timo Linnamäki, restaurateur and Chairman of the Board of Muru Dining, which operates several restaurants in Helsinki. Representing Muru Group at the travel fair will be the restaurant Pastis, which focuses on rustic French cuisine and a casual atmosphere, as well as attentive and individual service.
“So much is happening in Helsinki’s restaurant scene, the range of offerings continues to expand, and there are real gems offering unique experiences throughout the city. Muru Group’s restaurants are a good example of their versatility – our taste worlds vary from the French cuisine at Pastis and the fish and seafood dishes at Sue Ellen to the Italian cuisine at Fiasco and the pure Finnish flavours at Finnjävel.”
Photo: Finnjävel
Finnjävel originally began as a temporary pop-up restaurant but has since established its operations and gained its first Michelin star in 2021. In the same year, Finnjävel received the acclaimed Service Award for the best service in the Nordic countries.
“The concept of the restaurant is to serve the best Nordic flavours and to bring traditional Finnish dishes that are reminiscent of your grandma’s cooking into the 2020s with a new, innovative approach. We strongly believe in Helsinki’s potential as a restaurant city at the international level, and we will be promoting this message by opening Finnjäveli’s pop-up restaurant at other locations in the future. The pop-up will also present the Helsinki Distilling Company and Finnish Gin. Our aim is to offer a unique food experience that attracts international interest in Finnish food culture, producers and ingredients and inspires people to travel to the source to experience more,” says Timo Linnamäki. For the Silo, Leena Karppinen.
Featured image: Tuukka Koski/ Koski Syväri, MyHelsinki Material Bank
Maximizing workspace in smaller environments is a common struggle, leaving many people feeling cramped and unproductive. The frustration of limited space can lead to discomfort and decreased efficiency. Small sit-stand desks are an innovative solution for optimizing your workspace and enhancing productivity. They allow you to alternate between sitting and standing, making the most of your workspace while promoting better health and efficiency throughout your day.
As remote work continues to rise in popularity, having functional and ergonomic solutions is more crucial than ever. A small workstation can transform your workspace by providing flexibility and promoting a healthier posture. Studies show that using a small sit stand desk can reduce sedentary time by up to 50%, leading to health benefits.
Small Sit-Stand Desks: Why Choose Them?
Choosing a small sit-stand desk is an excellent solution for anyone working in a compact space, whether at home, in a small office, or even in a corner of a larger room. These desks maximize functionality without overcrowding your workspace, making them perfect for smaller environments.
Their major benefit is their ability to improve posture and reduce the risk of chronic pain from prolonged sitting. Research indicates that alternating between sitting and standing during your workday alleviates back and neck discomfort.
These workstations provide the flexibility to adjust your position throughout the day, helping you maintain higher energy levels and better focus. With a compact design, they fit into any home office setup and offer all the ergonomic benefits of a traditional standing workstation without sacrificing valuable space.
Choosing the Right Small Sit-Stand Desk
The most common buyer’s mistake is purchasing a workstation without measuring their available space. An option that is too large can clutter your workspace, while one that is too small may not provide enough room for all your essential items.
Before buying, measure your workspace. Consider the width, the depth, and the available height range, if you plan to place your workstation under shelves or in tight corners.
Key Features to Consider
Ensure the desk can adjust to your height. The work surface should be at least 24” deep and 48” wide for standard use. Consider options with memory presets for easy adjustments if you often alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
Size and Adjustability
Choose a model with a height range of 28” to 48”. It accommodates most users, with adjustability allowing for sitting and standing positions. When selecting, check if the workstation’s height range fits your body’s needs (your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle when seated).
Weight Capacity and Stability
Select a solution that supports your equipment without compromising stability. Small sit-stand workstations have a weight capacity between 50 to 300 pounds. For models supporting multiple monitors or heavy equipment, aim for variants with a weight capacity of 150-300 pounds.
Mobility
For small spaces that double as multi-use areas, you might want to consider an option with wheels or one that is easy to move. A mobile sit-stand workstation will allow you to switch from a workstation to a meeting area or move the desk for cleaning. If working in a shared environment, portability can provide much-needed flexibility without sacrificing functionality.
Popular Small Sit-Stand Desk Options
When choosing a workstation, understand the differences between electric and manual models to find the best fit:
Electric vs. Manual Adjustments
Electric sit-stand models allow for quick adjustments at the touch of a button. It makes them ideal for remote workers, freelancers, or anyone who frequently switches between sitting and standing. These desks are helpful if you spend long hours at your desk and need to adjust height smoothly throughout the day. However, they tend to come with a higher price tag.
Manually adjusted workstations, on the other hand, are a more affordable option and work well for individuals who do not need frequent height adjustments. Home office workers or students who use the desk less often may find manual desks the perfect budget-friendly option. While manual desks require some physical effort to adjust, they are reliable and long-lasting.
Price Considerations
Electric desks usually range from $300 to $800, depending on the brand, features, and size. While they may seem more expensive, the convenience and ease of use could be worth the investment, especially for individuals with ergonomic concerns or those who use their desks for long hours each day.
Manual desks are priced between $150 and $400, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. The trade-off here is that while manual desks are more affordable, they may require more effort to adjust, which could be a drawback for those who prefer a smoother transition between sitting and standing.
Setting Up a Compact Workspace
A small sit-stand desk requires an efficient and thoughtful layout to ensure you make the most of your compact space.
Position your desk near a corner or wall to minimize distractions and save space. Incorporate vertical storage solutions, such as shelves, to keep essentials within arm’s reach while maintaining an uncluttered, organized workspace.
Accessories like keyboard trays and adjustable monitor arms are great space savers. A keyboard tray keeps your wrists in a neutral position and frees up valuable desk space. Adjustable monitor arms allow you to position your screen at eye level, which helps reduce strain on your neck and back.
With a small desk, cables can quickly create clutter. Use cable trays, clips, or a cable management box to keep wires organized and out of sight. It will help you maintain a professional look and prevent tripping hazards.
Keep your monitor at least an arm’s length away, with the top of the screen at or below your eye level. Your keyboard should be at a height that allows your elbows to be at a 90-degree angle when typing.
Investing in a small sit-stand desk can enhance your workspace’s functionality and comfort. With the best setup, you will enjoy better health, productivity, and satisfaction in your work environment. Explore the available options today to find the perfect fit for your compact workstation! For the Silo, Anna Melnikova.
Ugh it’s winter and here in Southern Ontario as I type this we are at the tail end of the Polar Vortex. It’s damn cold out. But there are some things that lend themselves well to “tossing another log on” and staying cozy while enjoying being indoors or perhaps in your heated shop or garage.
In fact, the winter is a great time to take stock and plan for your automotive future. Maybe you’ve packed your summer car away for the season and realized there’s still room for one more, or perhaps you’ve been whiling away the winter daydreaming about the car that got away years ago.
Get Out The Hair Gel
Whatever the case, our friends at Hagerty put together their latest valuation info to find some cool ’80s-vintage North American cars and trucks that we would like to add to our collections, and we think you might agree with at least some of them. Read on brave winter warrior….
The following six vehicles can all be had for less than $25,000 usd/ $35,8300 cad in #3 (Good) condition. That’s a solid starting place for a classic you plan on putting some miles on, and a great place to start if you want a running and driving project that you can cruise to RADwood with. Here then are their excellent picks, in descending order based on value.
1989 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
Ford
#3 Value: $24,900 usd/ $35,680 cad
The LX was a bit of a sleeper as it had the same EFI 5.0-liter V-8 as the GT without the flashy bits. We like the later Fox-body styling, and while the ’89 comes close to the $25,000 usd price cap, 1987 and 1988 models look just as good and tend to be just a bit more affordable. Of course, four-eyed Fox-body Mustangs (which some of the Hagerty team find more stylish) tend to be even less expensive, but they are also less powerful. One of these later LX models would be a great place to start for a mild build to enjoy the fantastic 5.0-liter soundtrack, as few platforms have the kind of aftermarket behind it that the Fox-body still enjoys.
1987 Buick Regal T-Type Turbo
Mecum
#3 Value: $23,800 usd/ $38,400 cad
Speaking of sleepers, the turbocharged Buicks of the ’80s are some of the most infamous. Even when the sinister black Grand National gained a reputation, the less overt turbocharged Buick models still flew under the radar. The later turbo Buicks were fuel injected and Buick kept improving the punchy 3.8-liter V-6, with final models getting upgraded airflow by way of a new charge cooler, an aluminum intake manifold, and an improved turbocharger. The final tweaks gave 1987 turbo Buicks 245 hp and 355lb-ft of torque. While those numbers aren’t particularly impressive when compared to more modern performance cars (keeping in mind that hp isn’t everything when it comes to performance measurements) , or family sedans for that matter, they put Buicks firmly in the fight for the title of quickest new cars on the market. Their interesting development history makes them a worthy collectible, and the less flashy T-Type is a great entry point at about 35 percent less than a comparable Grand National.
1989 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway
Callaway Cars
#3 Value: $23,800 usd/ $34,100 cad
If 245 horsepower was a lot in 1987 (it was), imagine how exotic a 382hp twin-turbo Corvette must have been. The late Reeves Callaway had a long history of building exciting and powerful Corvettes, and even the earliest models were an ambitious project. The first twin-turbo Corvettes his company turned out in 1987 produced 345 hp, the same rating the first C5 Corvettes would receive with their naturally aspirated LS1 V-8s starting in 1997. Ever improving, Callaway soon had the 350-cubic-inch small-block pumping out 382 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful cars you could buy. It even came with a 12-month warranty. Just 69 Callaway Twin-Turbo Corvettes were built in 1989 and today their #3 value is just less than the $26,000 usd cost of the B2K RPO code that indicated the rare powertrain option. They might be more trouble to maintain than the rugged and simple 350 that came in everyday C4 Corvettes, but the Callaway Twin-Turbo mill was truly special. It’s also one of the best-looking C4 variants ever created, if you ask us.
1988 Stutz Bearcat
Stutz Motor Car Company
#3 Value: $23,100 usd/ $33,100 cad
The Stutz Bearcat is not well known, and those that do have any knowledge of the low-volume cars probably remember the ’60s iteration, a reemergence of the nameplate, and based on the Pontiac Grand Prix. Few will remember the original: a racy, brass-era runabout, and you can bet that if you arrived at a show in the final version of the Bearcat, based on the third-gen Firebird and sporting a carbon fiber composite body built in Turin, you’d be met with a lot of puzzled looks. Only about a dozen were built on the F-body platform, making them a truly rare sight. While the ubiquitous small-block drivetrain would make them easy to maintain, everything else about the car would be difficult to replace. Still, it’s quite a head-turning piece of American and Italian coachwork.
International Harvester gave its Scout lineup a makeover for its final year, featuring a new grille designed by Dick Hatch that used rectangular headlights. We think that the final grille is a great fit for the simple, blocky trucks and SUVs. The one shown above, with orange and yellow graphics, is practically perfect. While the standard wheelbase Scout II and the stretched Scout Traveler SUV are both outside of our $25,000 usd threshold, the stretched wheelbase Terra pickup is a more affordable entry point to Scout and meets the criteria when equipped with either the six-cylinder Nissan turbodiesel or the 196-cube four-cylinder that used the passenger bank of the company’s venerable 392 V-8. We love these rugged rigs and the Terra, with its 118-inch wheelbase and short overhangs, combines a decent-sized bed with maneuverability that’s appreciated off-road. The final year of Scout production would make an excellent addition to a collection where it could pitch in with its rugged utility and look great doing it.
1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
Courtesy Throttlestop/Andrew Marvan
#3 Value: $18,800 usd/ $26,900 cad
Chevrolet’s competitor to the lighter, more angular Mustang GT was the IROC-Z, the performance-oriented F-body that finally got the 350-cubic-inch Tuned-Port Injection (TPI) engine from its big brother, Corvette, starting in 1987. The 5.7-liter powerplant was only available with a four-speed auto as the T5 transmission that fits under the Camaro’s floorplan couldn’t handle the larger motor’s torque. The TPI intake, perched like a spider on top of the engine, featured long runners that favored low-speed torque. Unfortunately the intake, and the engine’s meager cylinder heads, weren’t great at maintaining that torque to get the power numbers up, Still, it competed well against the smaller Ford V-8 in the Mustang. Contemporary reviews praised the IROC-Z’s power, road-holding, steering feel, and traction compared to its Mustang counterpart, but the 5.0-liter Mustangs were formidable opponents. Your choice might come down to brand loyalty or whether you prefer the boxy Fox-body or the sleek F-body. If we found one of these in our garage, we’d be tempted to troll eBay and swap meets for vintage ’80s speed parts to build a day-two IROC-Z for canyons and backroads. But that is just us.
Air fryers have revolutionized home cooking, offering a healthier, faster, and more efficient way to prepare meals—but they aren’t foolproof…especially when cooking frozen foods. Below, “The Queen of Air Fryers” Cathy Yoder shares some essential tips, tricks, and common pitfalls for perfecting frozen food in the air fryer. From achieving the ideal crisp without excess oil to avoiding rookie mistakes, this comprehensive guide ensures delicious results every time. Perfect for food and lifestyle coverage, this piece offers value to novice and seasoned air fryer enthusiasts, alike.
Can you cook frozen foods in the air fryer? Yes, you can! In fact, the air fryer cooks up frozen food items faster than the regular oven. While the air fryer is something different than a deep fryer, it can also do most if not all of the same things that a deep fryer can do, but in a healthier fashion. By using less oil, you can cut down on the fat content of some of your favorite fried foods.
Tips and tricks for cooking frozen food in the air fryer:
Food will cook slightly differently in the air fryer than in a deep fryer. So, you will have to do some adjusting of cook times and temperatures, as well as a few other ways to make sure you are cooking frozen food well. There are very extensive internal temperature charts available that can be very helpful as well.
Best Practices:
Preheat the air fryer: this can help get the air fryer to the right temperature and potentially cook faster. However, it is not always necessary in order for frozen food to cook properly.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket: make sure to leave space between the food always for it to cook through evenly without undercooking parts, leaving them unsafe to eat.
Shake or stir the food: Most air fryers will require the food to be shaken or stirred in order to get the food cooked evenly, especially for foods like fries.
Use oil sparingly. Lots of frozen foods already have oils in them and so they don’t need a lot of oil, just a little. So don’t use too much oil to make it too greasy or unhealthy. Or, if you want it to be extra crispy, then spritz a little extra oil and bump up the heat.
Check internal temperature. The recommended internal temperature of most frozen foods is 165 degrees F or 74 degrees C.
Top Frozen Food Air Fryer Mistakes
Only using an air fryer for frozen foods. Avoid this by branching out and committing to make one new air fryer recipe a week!
Using aerosol sprays in the air fryer – these are full of propellants and chemicals that you not only don’t want to consume, but it’s not good for the air fryer basket coating. Instead, buy an oil sprayer and put pure avocado oil in it (which has a high smoke point, is healthier than other oils, and tasteless).
Using metal utensils with the air fryer. Protect coating the air fryer basket by using silicone coated tools. I also like to use air fryer parchment paper liners which also protects the basket AND makes cleaning the air fryer so much easier (see mistake 7).
Overcrowding the basket – depending on what you’re making, you want to allow room for air flow around the food you’re cooking. If you’re doing a mix of veggies with protein for example, the food does not need to be in a single layer, but you also don’t want to fill the basket up so much that the food has a hard time cooking. Generally I try and keep it no more than ⅓ full and be sure to stir food around during cooking so everything can cook evenly.
Following oven directions. Since the air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven, foods cook faster since the heat is contained in a smaller space and the air flow is more powerful. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the temperature by 25˚ and cut the cook time in half. Then you can add more time as needed.
Not using an instant read food thermometer… Using this will help you know when your food is actually cooked. That way you stay safe by not undercooking foods AND your food tastes better because it won’t dry out because you’re over cooking.
Not cleaning the air fryer basket after each cooking session – which leads to a gross build up of grease and food that will be harder to clean later! After using the air fryer I will let it cool slightly and then I usually wipe up any grease or food drippings with a paper towel, then spray on some Dawn Powerwash and let it sit for a few minutes. Then I’ll wipe up any remaining grease and then wash it down with some hot water. That usually cleans it all up with minimal effort. Don’t forget to wipe the inside of the air fryer and around the heating element with a damp cloth. With some of the foods you cook in the air fryer, consider using air fryer parchment liners to avoid any large messes in the first place.
Cooking fatty foods wrong! First, you likely do not even need to use oil because the protein already has fat. Second, the fattier the food, the more grease that will drip thru the tray. Depending on your air fryer, this might cause alarm because the air fryer will start smoking! One tip is to place a piece of bread between the basket and tray of the air fryer to catch greasy drippings.
Relying too much on preset buttons. Just because the button for fish or chicken has a set time and temperature, doesn’t mean you should follow that exact time and temp. Defer to mistake #6 – use the food thermometer to know when your food is actually done. Otherwise, you will likely overcook your food if you just push the button and walk away. “Roast” “Broil” “Bake” in most cases, this does not change the function of what is happening inside the air fryer, but is actually just adjusting the programmed temperature and time.
Expecting the air fryer to perform just like a deep fryer. This means battered foods will not turn out well in the air fryer, save those for your deep fryer instead. Yes, some things do just taste better deep fried, but in many cases air frying is a close 2nd and the health benefits of way less oil in your food make using an air fryer worth it.
Yes, the air fryer is a great tool to cook frozen foods, like those included on my list of my list of “Frozen foods to make in the air fryer.” This handy appliance can cook frozen foods fast and just as crispy as a deep fryer … but with less fat. All great things. For the Silo, Cathy Yoder.
Widely regarded as the “Queen of Air Fryers,” Cathy Yoder—a mother of eight—wanted to prove that air fryers could do more than reheat frozen foods and leftovers. So, she documented her journey on YouTube. Today she boasts over 742,000 YouTube followers and yet more across other socials, over 6 million video views and tens of thousands of cookbooks sold.
Complete Guidance for Choosing the Right Wine Glass for Every Occasion
When it comes to enjoying red wine, you might wonder if the shape of your glass really matters. The quick answer is yes—it can make a noticeable difference in how your wine smells and tastes. Different wine glasses are often designed to highlight particular grape varieties, aromas, and flavor profiles.
For many wine enthusiasts, the right glass can enhance the overall experience without needing to be a total wine geek. Below, we will look at the most common red wine glasses. We will discuss why they shape this way. We will also see how each glass can enhance the aromas and flavors of your favorite wines.
1. Why Wine Glass Shape Matters
You’ve likely seen wine glasses in countless shapes and sizes—enough to make your head spin (even before you start sipping!). There is a good reason for these variations: different shapes bring out different characteristics in each grape variety. Each wine has its own aromas, flavors, and textures, so customizing the glass shape to the wine can make a surprisingly big difference in how it tastes.
For instance, red wines often need more aeration because of their higher tannin content. A larger bowl helps air circulate, softening any harshness. White wines, on the other hand, are more delicate in both aromas and flavors, so a narrower glass can help preserve their freshness.
Even sparkling wines benefit from tall, slender shapes to maintain their bubbles for longer. Essentially, the shape of a wine glass can enhance the experience of the wine—helping the aromas to escape, guiding the wine across your palate in a certain way, and influencing how it ultimately tastes.
That doesn’t mean you need a dozen different glasses at home. The main takeaway is to understand the role of a glass shape so you can make an informed decision when purchasing or picking a glass. Sometimes, owning one universal glass won’t ruin your enjoyment. But if you’d like to optimize your wine experience, a few targeted glass styles can be a fun addition to your collection
2. What Are the Main Components of a Wine Glass?
To see how glass shapes impact the way we taste wine, it’s helpful to know the four main parts of a wine glass:
The Rim (or Mouth)
This is where your lips meet the glass. Thinner rims feel more refined and allow the wine to flow smoothly, whereas thicker rims can slightly alter how the wine lands on your palate.
The Bowl
This is where you pour the wine. A wide bowl is perfect for swirling red wines, helping aromas open up and mix with air. White wine or delicate rosé glasses often have narrower bowls to keep those lighter aromas focused.
The Stem
The stem allows you to hold the glass without warming the bowl (and therefore the wine) with your hand, which is especially beneficial for wines that are best served at a cooler temperature. Many traditional wine glasses feature a long stem for this reason.
However, there are also stemless wine glasses available—often preferred for easy transportation and casual settings—though they offer less insulation from body heat than stemmed glass.
The Base
Also known as the foot, the base provides stability. In nearly all wine glasses, this circular platform is what keeps the glass upright on a table.
Understanding each component can help you appreciate why certain shapes work best for certain wines. Together, these four elements impact everything from temperature control to how aromas reach your nose.
3. What Are the Benefits of Using Matching Glasses with Wine?
If you’ve ever questioned the need for different shapes, consider these benefits:
Better Aeration
Big, bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, or other tannin-heavy wines often benefit from extra air contact. A larger, rounder bowl lets you swirl the wine, allowing oxygen to soften harsh tannins.
Enhanced Aromas
The shape and size of the glass can concentrate or diffuse a wine’s aromas. For example, a narrower bowl preserves the delicate floral notes of light-bodied whites, while a more open bowl encourages the rich scents of reds to expand.
Temperature Control
Holding a glass by the stem keeps your hand off the bowl, preventing heat transfer. This is crucial for wines meant to stay cool, such as crisp whites and sparkling wines.
Aesthetic Enjoyment
On a purely fun note, sipping from an elegant glass that matches the style of wine just feels special. Whether you’re hosting friends or enjoying a quiet evening in, having a selection of wine glasses can elevate the entire experience.
4. Generally Which Glass for Which Type of Wine?
If you don’t have unlimited space or budget, focus on a few key glass styles:
Red Wine Glasses
Choose something with a larger bowl and a gentle inward taper at the rim. This allows for swirling (aeration) and keeps the pronounced aromas of red wine from overwhelming your nose in one go. A taller stem is also helpful, as it lets you hold the glass comfortably without warming the wine too much.
White and Rosé Wine Glasses
Pick glasses that are smaller and more upright. Lighter wines often need less aeration, so a narrower bowl can maintain their delicate aromas and subtle flavor nuances.
Champagne Glasses
Tall, slender stems with narrow bowls—like flutes or tulips—are traditional for sparkling wines. The primary goal is to keep bubbles intact for as long as possible and direct those lovely aromas straight to your nose.
A Universal Glass
If you’d rather keep things simple, you can invest in a well-designed “all-purpose” glass. While it won’t be perfectly tailored to every grape variety, it will still do a decent job for both reds and whites, letting you enjoy your wine without a fuss.
5. Grape-Specific Glasses
If your goal is to enhance the taste and scent of each grape type, you don’t need a unique set of wine glasses for every style—just a handful of adaptable shapes will suffice. However, for enthusiasts eager to maximize each serving, there are some timeless, reliable shapes to consider.
The Zinfandel (or Riesling/Chianti) Glass
Even though Zinfandel is known for its bold, jammy fruit flavors, you’ll often see it served in a relatively narrow tulip-shaped glass with around a 14-ounce capacity. This smaller, tapered shape captures the sweet berry aromas that make Zinfandel so appealing.
If you also enjoy lighter-bodied reds like Chianti (made from Sangiovese grapes) or highly aromatic whites such as Riesling, this same shape can work beautifully.
If you’re into spicy, earthy Zinfandels and want a bit more space for those subtler nuances, consider using one that’s slightly larger.
The Cabernet/Merlot Glass
Often referred to as Bordeaux glass, this shape usually has a capacity of around 20–22 ounces and is slightly taller than a Zinfandel glass. Wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and similar Bordeaux-style blends can have fairly high tannin levels and deeper color.
A benefit of this larger tulip is that it provides enough space to swirl your wine and release layers of aromas beyond just fruit, like peppery spice or oak-induced vanilla.
The Pinot Noir Bowl
Pinot Noir is cherished for its delicate character, fragrant aromas, and softer tannins, which is why a wide, bowl-shaped glass is often recommended. Burgundy glasses generally hold around 24 ounces and look almost balloon-like. The bowl’s roundness allows more air to come into contact with the wine, intensifying its floral, fruity aromas. Additionally, the wider rim encourages the wine to reach the tip of your tongue first, where you detect sweetness, making lighter-bodied reds taste smoother and more velvety.
If you appreciate easy-drinking reds with floral notes—like Gamay from Beaujolais or certain Lodi-grown Grenache—this style of glass can really spotlight those softer aromas.
The Syrah/Shiraz/Tempranillo Glass
For dark and strong wines, some glass makers offer a tall tulip shape. This glass holds about 24 ounces, like a Pinot Noir bowl, but has straighter sides. It’s often labeled as a Syrah, Shiraz, or Tempranillo glass.
The logic behind this design is to showcase robust aromas—like black pepper, dark fruit, or earthy nuances—while still providing enough space for highly tannic wines to open up.
Wine glass shape matters because it impacts how your wine tastes—controlling how much air it gets, how aromas develop, and how the wine hits your palate. By knowing the main components (rim, bowl, stem, base) and the benefits of matching glasses to your wine, you can pick the right style for your personal preferences.
That might be a single all-purpose glass or a couple of different options for reds, whites, and sparkling wines. Either way, understanding the basics will help you get the most out of every sip.
Krystal Wen is a vinicultural expert with the “VinoVoss”—anAI Sommelier smartphone app and web-based semantic wine search and recommendation system developed by BetterAI. The user-friendly online platform picks the perfect wine every time, for any occasion courtesy of a highly advanced artificial intelligence assist.VinoVoss uses AI-powered machine learning that is guided and trained by human sommeliers and wine experts, working alongside engineers and data scientists, to assure highly tailored and relevant wine discovery.Reach her at www.vinovoss.com.
January 2015, Villa Erba, Italy. Our friends at Broad Arrow Auctions are thrilled to announce the consignment of what many consider to be one of the most original early Ferrari models extant to its inaugural Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Auction. Never before offered for public sale, the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa with Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ansaloni is one of two examples purchased by the Besana brothers, Ferrari’s earliest customers.
Complete with Ferrari Classiche White Book certification with its original body, chassis, 2.0-liter V12 engine, and five-speed racing gearbox, it is further complemented by 50-year family ownership from 1965 to 2015 with multiple in-depth editorial pieces documenting its impressive provenance.
1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa Coachwork by Carrozzeria Ansaloni Chassis No 004 C Engine No. 004 C Estimate: €5,500,000 – €7,500,000 / $8,180,000 cad- $11,540,000 cad. Classiche White Book certified with its original body, chassis, 2.0-liter V12, and five-speed racing gearbox. One of two 166 Spyder Corsas purchased by the Besana brothers, Ferrari’s earliest customers. Sixth overall at the 1948 Targa Florio, a veteran of the 1948 and 1949 Mille Miglias, period Formula Two races, and hill climbs. Long-term 50-year family ownership 1965-2015 with multiple in-depth editorial pieces. 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class award—displayed at Pebble Beach within Casa Ferrari in 2019 and 2022. Best of Show at the 2003 FCA National Meet, Cavallino and FCA Platinum Awards; feature car at the 2006 Cavallino Classic.
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has designated January as National Radon Action Month to draw attention to what it describes as “an invisible, silent home invader.” The CDC initiative seeks to unmask the dangers of radon, a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is responsible for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year.
“Radon can build up in the air in any home or building, whether or not it has a basement, is sealed or drafty, or is new or old,” the CDC warns. It also explains that there is “no known safe level of radon,” encouraging every homeowner to test for radon and, when detected, implement effective mitigation systems.
The last week of January 2025 is the CDC’s Radon Awareness Week, which encourages people to explore their personal “Radon Story.” The following facts about radon can help anyone understand how they might come into contact with it, its potential health impacts, and how radon levels in a home or other building can be reduced.
Any home can be vulnerable to radon
Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive element that is released when radium in rocks, plants, and soil breaks down. It makes its way into buildings through cracks and other openings in foundations.
Outdoors, radon dissipates in the atmosphere to levels that are not harmful to humans. If trapped indoors, however, it can accumulate to dangerous levels. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 1 in 15 homes contains dangerous radon levels. The 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities found that 18 percent of Canadian homes contain unsafe levels of radon.
Certain people face higher risks of radon-related health issues
When radon accumulates indoors, it can be breathed in by humans to be trapped in lung tissues, where its radioactivity then can lead to cancer. It is estimated that radon exposure causes an estimated 84,000 lung cancer deaths globally each year, which makes it second only to smoking for lung cancer deaths.
While radon can cause health impacts for anyone, certain people have been identified as being more vulnerable to its effects. According to the EPA, cigarette smokers face a higher risk of radon-induced lung cancer due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. Those with a faster breathing rate, including pregnant women and children, also face more of a risk of health impacts from radon.
Modern technology can provide real-time radon readings
Traditional tests determine radon levels by using charcoal canisters to capture a sample of indoor air that is then analyzed in a lab. The effectiveness of those tests is limited by the fact that they capture only a single snapshot of radon levels, which can fluctuate significantly between seasons and even throughout the day. In addition, obtaining test results from the lab requires waiting several days.
Modern radon monitors provide ongoing readings of radon levels, with initial readings available within minutes and reliable results determined within an hour. These monitors ensure that fluctuations in radon levels are identified, and they can also be easily moved around within a home or building to identify radon hot spots. Continuous readings from the monitors can also be accessed wirelessly through a mobile app for in-depth analysis, capable of alerting the residents to potential radon issues even when they are not at home.
High levels of accumulation require radon mitigation
Mitigation is essential for homes where high levels of radon accumulation are detected. The EPA has set the radon action level at 4 pCi/L. Canadian authorities have set a level of 200 Bq/m3, which is approximately 5.4 pCi/L.
Radon mitigation systems utilize fans and suction pipes to carry out a process known as active soil depressurization. The process removes radon from beneath foundations before it can make its way into structures. The systems typically require little maintenance and can be run for as little as $10 per month in operating costs. They also prevent other soil gases from entering the home.
While radon poses serious health risks, these risks can be easily prevented. Homeowners can stay safe from the dangerous effects of the gas by taking the steps to: 1)continuously monitoring for radon accumulation by using a modern radon monitor that provides ongoing readings of radon levels, and 2) when necessary, leveraging the mitigation tools available for reducing radon levels or seeking the help of radon professionals to eliminate the threat of toxic gas from the inside of their homes. For the Silo, Insoo Park, Founder and CEO of Ecosense.
Temple Grandin, you may or may not know, is a person. I had not heard of her until recently, but I suspect her name is going to become much more recognized. Time Magazine named her one of their Time 100 for 2010. Sure that was awhile ago but consider this- she made the list of the hundred most influential people in the WORLD. She has a website. I highly suggest you check it out.
Temple Grandin (2010), the film, is the authorized movie biography of this remarkable woman and one of the first movies that treated autism with respect. She was diagnosed with autism in 1950, when the disorder was still called infantile schizophrenia. Her mother was told that Temple’s options for any measure of achievement or satisfying relationship in life were nil. Institutionalization was offered as the only practical option. But her mother wouldn’t give up. Claire Danes utterly transforms herself to tell us the story of Temple’s emergence from a relatively isolated kind of consciousness into the person she is today: author, lecturer, PHD, world renowned animal expert and autism advocate.
One of the first things we learn about Grandin is that she thinks in pictures, which makes film an especially potent medium for telling her story. Director Mick Jackson uses images throughout the film to help us understand how Grandin sees and feels the world. This is in keeping with what some have called Grandin’s greatest contribution to science- she was the first autistic person able to articulate to a wide audience what it is like to be autistic. Jackson’s film will widen the influence of her legacy further still. As well as a great story, it is a moving work of art.
I’m not sure if the brilliance of Claire Danes’ performance can be overstated, but I will simply say this: I had no idea. This woman is an ACTRESS!! HBO films are not considered for Oscars, but if they did she would certainly be a strong nominee. For the Silo, Junior Selector.
In Defense of Animals Supports Evacuations & Offers Emergency Care
Watch video below-
In Defense of Animals battled through downed power lines, rockslides, and fallen trees to aid animals, and is offering and seeking help for others. Photo: In Defense of Animals
LOS ANGELES (January, 2025) — As the devastating Palisades Fire and others continue to ravage communities in Los Angeles, In Defense of Animals is taking decisive action to support animal rescuers and provide life-saving aid for animals affected by the crisis. Among the heroic responders is In Defense of Animals board member Sammy Zablen, who has been working tirelessly to evacuate animals from dangerous areas.
On January 8, Zablen responded to a plea from Philozoia animal rescue in Malibu’s Tuna Canyon area to evacuate two ponies from their fire-threatened property. What would normally be a 20-minute drive took over three hours due to extreme conditions, including rockslides, downed trees, and fire debris blocking the route.
Navigating a treacherous path that included cutting brush and driving on hiking trails, Zablen’s team encountered harrowing obstacles such as a burning power pole, destroyed homes, and vehicles engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, the team discovered the ponies’ corral broken and the animals missing. Despite an active fire and dangerous rockslides, the team searched the area for 30 minutes, leaving food, water, and dousing the roof with water to mitigate further damage.
The two ponies have now been recovered by Philozia, but two dogs remain missing and the rescue center burned down entirely. Earlier in the day, a pig and 38 dogs were successfully evacuated. Philozoia is seeking urgent foster care for several senior dogs.
In Defense of Animals is collaborating with multiple local rescuers and organizations. Advanced Fire Rescue and Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue were both vital in coordinating resources and gaining access to this dangerous area.
In Defense of Animals is offering emergency aid to animal rescuers and caregivers affected by the fires and providing free resources for temporary housing and care for wild and domestic animals.
“The devastation of these fires is unimaginable, and animals are often the most vulnerable victims,” said Marilyn Kroplick M.D., President of In Defense of Animals. “We are deeply grateful for the bravery of responders like Sammy Zablen and the other incredible organizations we are coordinating with to help on the ground. Together, we are making a difference for animals in crisis.”
In Defense of Animals urges anyone needing assistance with animal evacuations or free, temporary housing for wild or domestic animals to call Sammy Zablen at 310-869-2383. Please mention The Silo when contacting.
In Defense of Animals is seeking donations which are critical to support these emergency efforts, providing resources such as veterinary supplies, food, water, and temporary shelter: www.idausa.org/lafire For the Silo, Fleur Dawes.
Request Fire Assistance: Sammy Zablen, Board Member, 310-869-2383
In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California with over 250,000 supporters and a history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in California, India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi since 1983. www.idausa.org
January , 2025 – One of the most consequential policy changes in this year’s federal budget – an increase in the capital gains inclusion rate – would have far-reaching consequences for Canadians, many of which are underestimated by the government, according to a new study from the C.D. Howe Institute. Leading economist and former President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, Jack Mintz, examines the extensive economic repercussions of this proposed change in his latest report available in full at the end of this article.
Fiscal and Tax Policy
With Parliament prorogued on January 6, the future of the proposed capital gains tax increase remains uncertain. Canadians face the possibility of the measure being passed, amended, or withdrawn entirely under a new government.
Meanwhile, tax planners and the affected individuals and corporations must await the outcome, even though the Canada Revenue Agency began administering the tax on June 25, 2024, after it was announced in the spring budget. At this time, taxpayers could be assessed interest and penalties if they do not comply with the proposed law. If the law is never passed, taxpayers will have to claim refunds. The provincial budgets reliant on the new revenues will be affected if the planned measure is ultimately withdrawn, adding to the confusion and disruption.
“The planned measure to increase the capital gains inclusion rate should never see the light of day when Parliament resumes after March 24, nor be revived thereafter by a new government,” says Mintz. “The hike would create a triple threat: harming Canadian businesses, discouraging investment, and penalizing middle-income Canadians.”
While the government estimated this change would only impact 40,000 individual tax filers and 307,000 corporations, Mintz’s analysis, using longitudinal data, reveals the true impact would be significantly broader. Over 1.26 million Canadians would be affected over their lifetimes – representing 4.3 percent of taxpayers or some 22,000 Canadians per year – with many middle-income earners among those hardest hit.
The report projects significant economic harm caused by the proposed increase – Canada’s capital stock would decline by $127 billion, GDP would fall by nearly $90 billion, and real per-capita GDP would drop by 3 percent. Further, employment would decline by 414,000 jobs, which would raise unemployment from 1.5 million to 1.9 million workers. Importantly, half of the affected individuals would be earning otherwise less than $117,000 annually, with 10 percent earning as little as $18,000, excluding capital gains income.
“This would not just be a tax on the wealthy,” says Mintz. “Many middle-income Canadians would bear the brunt of this increase, and the economic costs would ripple across the entire economy.”
Mintz also highlights the broader implications for Canadian businesses. The planned measure would likely deter equity financing, discourage investment, and exacerbate inefficiencies in financial and corporate structures. Contrary to government claims of “neutrality,” he argues the tax would disproportionately harm domestic companies. These companies will pay corporate capital gains taxes that will increase investment costs. Moreover, they are dependent on Canadian investors due to “home bias” in equity markets. The changes would risk weakening Canada’s productivity and competitiveness at a critical time.
The report further critiques the lack of mechanisms to mitigate the effects of “lumpy” capital gains. Significant asset disposals, such as selling real estate, farmland, business assets, secondary homes or during events like death or emigration, may occur only once or twice in a person’s lifetime. Without provisions to average or defer taxes, individuals would face disproportionately higher burdens. Additionally, the planned tax hike would exacerbate the “lock-in effect,” which discourages the efficient reallocation of capital.
“If the proposed law does not proceed, it would be worthwhile for a government to review capital gains taxation as part of a general tax review that would improve opportunities for economic growth rather than hurt it,” says Mintz.
From youtube user 1AmazingWorld: “Popocatepetl is one of the most violent volcanoes in Mexico and North America’s 2nd-highest volcano. The name Popocatepetl comes from the Aztec-Nahuatl words popōca ‘it smokes’ and tepētl ‘mountain’, thus Smoking Mountain.”
Mexico City, Mexico- Popocatepetl tells a náhuatl* legend about a brave warrior forced to go to war. Before he leaves on his mission, he secures permission to marry a beautiful princess named Iztaccihuatl (sleeping woman). After three long months without any messages about her love, the princess receives news that the warrior has died. Because of the sadness the princess cries constantly and finally dies of a broken heart.
There are actually several versions of the Popocatepetl e Iztaccihuatl legend.
In one of these is that the girl was a princess, what the most beautiful being be sacrificed to the gods for good harvests, but the warrior loved her and would not allow the sacrifice, so must flee to avoid with it, but they fled the guards discovered them and an arrow struck the princess.
His beloved picked her up and kept running, once away, safe, laid her on the field, vowing to take care of her forever, he would wait until she awakened from sleep, to continue living their love. But it has been so long that the fields and the snow would have covered.
After a short period of time the warrior returns home and discovers that Iztaccihuatl is no longer alive.
He carries her body up to the mountain where he buries her and falls onto his knees besides her while he screams so loudly that the entire valley of Mexico can hear him. The Gods feel compassionate and cover them with branches and snow and finally turn them into mountains, one with the silhouette of a woman and the other into a volcano that occasionally wakes up. The volcano is the reincarnated warrior from our story, named Popocatepetl.
It is difficult to feel completely safe, when even from a far-away distance, the mountain and the volcano are still visible. The volcano is to the right, in the background just behind the tree. photo: R.M. Robinson Bours
This Mexican volcano has been awake for some weeks now.
My name is Rosa Maria and I live in Mexico City not very far away from Popocatepetl. How is life for me and others living so close to the screaming warrior? I feel like running away every time Popocatepetl wakes up but most people stick to their daily routine; the volcano hasn’t had a major eruption or explosion for more than 1200 years so everybody is used to living with the sleeping Popocatelpetl and our Mexican, authorities order evacuations only in case of imminent danger. What’s really bizarre here, is that I can only see the volcano once in a while because of the pollution in the city. I know it exists and the evidence sits around me, as volcano ashes fall all over the place and on a clear day is quite a spectacle to see these two white, snowy figures through the urban building landscape.
*One of many languages from Mesoamerica culture, from Uto-Aztecan language family, most Nahuatl people live in Central Mexico.
Dice una leyenda Nahuatl que un valiente guerrero quería casarse con una hermosa princesa llamada Iztaccihuatl (la mujer durmiente), para tener el permiso del padre tuvo que ir a la Guerra.
La princesa Iztaccihuatl quedó en espera de su regreso y después de tres largos meses de no saber nada de su amado recibió la noticia de su muerte. La princesa lloró tanto que murió de amor. Después de poco tiempo el guerrero regresó a casa descubriendo el destino de su amada, la tomó en sus brazos y la cargó al monte para enterrarla. El guerrero permaneció de rodillas junto a su amada y sus gritos de dolor eran tan fuertes que se escuchaban por todo el valle de México. Los dioses sintieron compasión por ellos y los cubrieron de ramas y de nieve para finalmente convertirlos en montañas, una con la silueta de una mujer y el otro un volcán que de vez en cuando despierta; el nombre del guerrero es Popocatepetl.
Este volcán lleva varias semanas despierto. ¿Cómo es la vida de los mexicanos que escuchan el grito del guerrero? La mayoría continúa su vida diaria; la última gran explosión fue hace más de 1200 años, todos están acostumbrados a vivir junto al gran volcán y las autoridades evacuan únicamente en caso de peligro. Cada vez que el Popocatepetl presenta actividad me dan ganas de salir corriendo y me pregunto qué alcancé tendría una explosión fuerte. Curiosamente solo de vez en cuando se ven los volcanes, imagino será la contaminación, aunque el volcán te recuerda su presencia con las cenizas que esparce por todo la ciudad. En un día claro es todo un espectáculo ver estas dos figuras nevadas a través del paisaje citadino.
For the Silo, Rosa Maria Robinson Bours in Mexico City.
It’s June 1976- I just crossed the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Because the Khyber Pass is on the Pakistani side I have to change driving from right to left in my Citroën 2CV4. As being a Dutchman, I only have a mirror on the left side of my car. That shows to be far from useful in Pakistan!
It’s not easy to master the Khyber Pass all by myself. The bad road is snaky and sometimes the side of the abyss is very near. I have to avoid using my brakes because then I will slip away on the gravel and will certainly end somewhere in the far deep.
After a couple of hours while doing my best to avoid collisions with big trucks coming towards me, I get a beautiful view on the Indus Valley. Later on I will cross this famous river.
Landi Kotal, the first settlement in Pakistan, looks like a town in a Western movie.
Wooden houses with balconies, horses and carts in the streets and everywhere there are guns for sale. I am invited by a local craftsman to have a look at his rifles and he offers me a handmade kalashnikov for not more than 100 dollars. I tell him that I prefer to spend that amount of money on petrol to drive around in his country. Although he is quite persistent in selling while shooting in the air many times, I leave him in peace without any hole in my car.
It’s not a friendly welcome in Pakistan.
Most travellers by car cross the country as quick as possible while looking for the much more “peaceful” country of India. But I was told that northern Pakistan should be one of the most beautiful parts of the Lower Himalayas. In this region there are two small rivers coming down from the snow capped mountains following their own valley, the Swat in the Swat Valley and the Kunhar in the Kaghan Valley.
The first should be rather touristic, the other one hardly visited. Heading for the last one I have to drive to Islamabad/Rawalpindi first. From there I find the turn off while following the climbing road to Murree. Although it’s summertime there are not many owners of all those beautiful summer bungalows at home.
Fortunately there is a shop to buy some simple food. I pass the two little towns of Abottabad and Mansehra,
I fill up with petrol and head for Naran in the Hazara Province. While following the steep road up I notice that it’s cooling off. I close the canvas rooftop of my 2CV4 to keep the heat in. Although the sun is shining, snow capped mountains are coming near. It’s beautiful where ever I look but the road is getting worse. It looks like snow and ice have ruined the tarmac since last year. I wonder for how long I will be able to follow the river upstream. Hopefully I will reach Naran and may be a beautiful lake further on.
I am used to park my car somewhere in free nature to spend the night but I find a small rest house in the neighbourhood of Naran where I am welcomed to park my car to sleep in while using the amenities of this simple wooden building. Just by coincidence I notice a funny car on the small parking lot nearby. It’s a Citroën 2CV4 Break. The number plate shows me the origin. The car belongs to a young Swiss couple. It’s unbelievable to see two simple Citroën cars parked next to each other in the Kaghan Valley in northern Pakistan in 1976!
We meet in harmony and they tell me special celebrations will be held in Hemis Gumpa in Leh/Ladakh in India. This celebration will be open to tourists this year for the first time but they themselves have no time left to join the festivities. When it will happen they cannot tell me but it will be somewhere in July. Then suddenly I realize that I had a talk with some friends of friends of mine in Holland about half a year before I started my trip in my “Ugly Ducky” while telling me that they are going to visit an exceptional festival far away from the well known tourist trail in a group of selected people from Holland. I did not have a clue at that time what they were talking about.
When I started my trip in my Citroën in April 1976 I had in mind to spend some time at the south coast of France, not knowing to be in Pakistan some months later. It certainly will be a miracle to meet those Dutch in Leh.
I still have a month to go so I decide to stay here for a couple of days. The Swiss are very friendly and one day we decide to follow the road leading out of Naran into the mountains. They as well were told about a beautiful lake so we leave our cosy place. The first stretch is not easy. It looks as no traffic has left Naran for quite a while.
The road is getting quite dangerous.
Not only because of steep cliffs but also the surface is rather bad and very stony. There is snow everywhere as well. We both have simple 2 wheel drive cars with just a handful of horsepower so we cannot cross the huge landslide in front of us which blocks the road completely. That is a great pity because we are eager to see the lake.
We park our cars and collect some food and water in our small backpacks. We will give it a try to reach the lake by foot. The road is completely gone by snow but some locals have made a track from branches and stones to cross. It takes us about an hour to the moment we see the lake called Saif ul Maluk (or Saiful Muluk) which is glistering in the sun although there are some clouds. It’s like a fata morgana to find this beautiful lake with snow capped mountains around it. The temperature is fine but the water of the lake will be much too cold to take a bath.
While getting nearer to the lake we find the rest of the road in rather good condition because the lake is situated in a valley. We follow this track all the way to the end of the lake. We tease each other while throwing snow balls and we enjoy the complete serenity of the nature around us. There is no people, no animals, even no birds to spot. We all wonder how this beautiful place will look like in summer time. For the next two months some snow will melt but we are not sure if cars ever can reach the lake and even beyond during July and August. After that it will start snowing again.
We walk back to our cars and in the late afternoon and we park both our “mini vans” near the rest house. The owner welcomes us with a cup of tea. With some proud I tell everybody that tomorrow it will be my 26th birthday and I like to celebrate it but I actually do not know in what way. There are no alcoholic drinks for sale, there will be no fresh fruits or vegetables, no salted peanuts or French cheese with toast, neither potatoes nor spaghetti and the owner of the house does not sell any sort of meat.
The landlord approaches me. He offers me the possibility to “catch” my own meal to please myself and the Swiss on my birthday. Tomorrow I can give it a try. If I fail, he guarantees me at least six fish, the daily maximum. I wonder where he is talking about. On my birthday I borrow on his advice a rod with some spinners from him. Unfortunately I lose all spinners and I have to pay him some money as compensation. That was the deal we agreed before.
But now it’s his turn. Within half an hour he catches 6 beautiful rainbow trout from the Kunhar river.
I get all fish for free as being a birthday present. Unfortunately I do not have a decent kitchen to fry them. For a handful of Pakistani Rupees the landlady offers us to prepare a great meal. He and his wife reject my invitation to join the three of us.
That evening I enjoy one of the best meals I ever had. Both Swiss as well. Together with the trout we get French fries and even a nice salad with onions and tomatoes. A copious and super tasty birthday meal! The only thing we miss is a glass of chilled white wine.
It is a pity that the Swiss cannot stay much longer. They are heading west, back home to Switzerland. I am heading east in search for some Dutch at a festival in Leh/Ladakh (India). For the Silo, Frank van den Berge.
The Global Cooperation Barometer indicates that international cooperation has “flatlined”, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and instability, but positive momentum in climate finance, health and innovation offers hope. In an era of heightened volatility, leaders will need to embrace “disordered” cooperation and dynamic, solutions-driven decision-making to deliver tangible results and build trust. AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping the global landscape and driving upheaval. Concerted cooperation will be critical to harness benefits and minimize risks.
Geneva, Switzerland, January 2025 – The World Economic Forum’s Global Cooperation Barometer offers a critical assessment of the state of global cooperation, showing a world grappling with heightened competition and conflict, while also identifying various areas where leaders can drive progress through innovative collaboration. Released amid geopolitical, technological and sociopolitical upheaval, the Forum’s flagship annual report underscores the urgency of addressing shared challenges and offers leaders guidance on what cooperation can look like in a shifting world.
The Global Cooperation Barometer 2025, developed in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, uses 41 indicators to measure the current state of global cooperation. The aim is to offer leaders a tool to better understand the contours of cooperation broadly and along five pillars: trade and capital flows, innovation and technology, climate and natural capital, health and wellness, and peace and security. Now in its second edition, the Barometer draws on new data to provide an updated picture of the global cooperation landscape, with a particular focus on the impact of the new technological age.
“The Barometer is being released at a moment of great global instability and at a time when many new governments are developing agendas for the year, and their terms, ahead,” said Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. “What the Barometer shows is that cooperation is not only essential to address crucial economic, environmental and technological challenges, it is possible within today’s more turbulent context.”
“This second edition of the Global Cooperation Barometer focuses on where cooperation stands today and what it can look like in the new technological age,” said Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company. “Advancing global innovation, health, prosperity and resilience cannot be done alone. Leaders will need new mechanisms for working together on key priorities, even as they disagree on others, and the past several years have shown this balance is possible.”
The latest edition of the Barometer highlights that global cooperation is at a critical juncture. The report’s analysis reveals that after trending positively for a decade and surpassing pre-pandemic levels, overall cooperation has stagnated.
This has been driven by a sharp decline of the peace and security pillar of the Barometer over the past seven years, caused by mounting geopolitical tensions and competition which have significantly eroded global collective security. Levels of conflict and attendant humanitarian crises have increased in the past year to record levels, driven by crises including, but not limited to, the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan.
As the largely stable cooperative order that defined the post-Cold War period is giving way to a more fragmented landscape, solutions to pressing challenges – from climate action to technological governance – require collaboration. And despite the global security crises, the new findings indicate that collaboration has continued in various areas including vaccine distribution, scientific research, renewable energy development, and more – offering models for future cooperation.
Notably, peace and security have declined sharply in recent years, but other pillars of the Barometer have remained resilient and reveal emerging opportunities for international cooperation,
Innovation and technology. While geopolitical competition is rising in regard to certain frontier technologies such as semiconductors, overall global cooperation on technology and innovation advanced in 2023, in part due to digitization of the global economy. This helped drive the adoption of new technologies, a strong ramp-up in the supply of critical minerals – and a related drop in price of lithium batteries – and a rebound in student mobility. However, rapid disruption from emerging technologies such as AI is reshaping the global landscape, raising the possibility of a new frontline of geostrategic competition or even an “AI arms race”. Cooperative leadership and inclusive strategies will be key to harness its vast potential while tackling risks.
Climate and natural capital: Cooperation on climate goals improved over the past year, with increased finance flows and higher trade in low-carbon technologies such as solar, wind and electric vehicles. Yet, urgent action is required to meet net-zero targets as global emissions continue to rise. Greater global cooperation will be essential to scale up technologies and secure the financing needed to meet climate goals by 2030.
Health and wellness: Some health outcomes, including life expectancy, continued to improve post-pandemic, but overall progress is slowing compared to pre-2020. While cross-border assistance and pharmaceutical R&D have declined, and cooperation on trade in health goods and international regulations stalled, various health metrics including child and maternal mortality remain strong. Given rising health risks and ageing populations, leaders should invest in global cooperation to bolster public health and sustainable health systems.
Trade and capital flows: Metrics related to the flow of goods and services, trade, capital and people had mixed outcomes in 2023. Goods trade declined by 5%, driven largely by slower growth in China and other developing economies, while global fragmentation continued to reduce trade between Western and Eastern-aligned blocs. Despite this, global flows of services, capital and people showed resilience. Foreign direct investment surged, particularly in strategic sectors like semiconductors and green energy, while labour migration and remittances rebounded strongly, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.Looking ahead, leaders will need to find ways to work together, even as competition increases, as tangible results will be crucial to maintain public trust and support. The report concludes by underscoring the urgent need for adaptive, solutions-driven leadership to navigate a turbulent global landscape. By pivoting towards cooperative solutions, leaders can rebuild trust, drive meaningful change and unlock new opportunities for shared progress and resilience in the complex years ahead.
About the Global Cooperation Barometer Methodology
The Global Cooperation Barometer – first launched in 2024 – evaluates global collaboration across five interconnected dimensions: trade and capital, innovation and technology, climate and natural capital, health and wellness, and peace and security. The Barometer is built on 41 indicators, categorized as cooperative action metrics (evidence of tangible cooperation, such as trade volumes, capital flows, or intellectual property exchanges) and outcome metrics (broader measures of progress like reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or improvements in life expectancy). Spanning 2012–2023 and indexed to 2020 to reflect pandemic-era shifts, the Barometer normalizes data for comparability (e.g., financial metrics relative to global GDP and migration metrics to population levels) and weights it equally within and across pillars.
About the Annual Meeting 2025
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, taking place in Davos-Klosters from 20 to 24 January, convenes global leaders under the theme, Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. The meeting will foster new partnerships and insights to shape a more sustainable, inclusive future in an era of rapidly advancing technology, focusing on five key areas: Reimagining Growth, Industries in the Intelligent Age, Investing in People, Safeguarding the Planet, and Rebuilding Trust. Click here to learn more.
Many productivity tools come with hefty price tags in a world flooded with high-tech gadgets. But the new VISUAL Timer is an affordable, innovative solution that offers exceptional value. This “super timer” merges cutting-edge technology with a neuroscience-backed design to help users stay on track, improve focus, and boost productivity—all without breaking the bank.
Color Coded Visual Cues
This sleek, colorful time-management tool integrates color-coded visual cues with auditory signals to help users stay organized at home, in the office, or in the classroom. It helps users avoid procrastination, manage distractions, and stay engaged in tasks. The user-friendly interface makes it ideal for anyone from busy parents juggling multiple responsibilities to students, teachers, and even professionals working from home.
Affordable For All
At under $30usd/ $43 cad, the VISUAL Timer’s 360° color-coded cues and synchronized digital timer offer a new approach to time management. This tool is gaining significant attention as the #1 New Timer on Amazon—an essential, anytime purchase for anyone who wants to stay organized, motivated, and productive.
Perfect for gadget lovers, the VISUAL Timer is not just practical but also fun. Its visually engaging design makes it a conversation starter and a must-have gadget that anyone will appreciate.
The clean, modern aesthetics fit seamlessly into any environment, from home offices to classrooms. Whether placed on a desk, countertop, or bedside table, the VISUAL Timer is both a tool and a decorative piece that enhances the look of any space. For the Silo, Kat Fleischman.
The trouble is that automobiles, like everything else, are subject to the law of entropy. “Preservation” is about more than just keeping the odometer reading low. “Like-new” means something different after one, two, or three decades, even if the car still has plastic wrap on the steering wheel. The paint, upholstery, and trim may look flawless—but what about the bits you can’t see, like the complex systems and different materials that make up the driveline? Just because a car is like-new doesn’t mean it actually is new, or that you can just hop in and drive it home. We decided to call up some experts across the industry to answer a big question: What exactly is happening to a car when it sits?
The Henry Ford Museum/Wes Duenkel
First off, what’s happening to it while it sits depends on where it sits. Imagine a car in a museum—perhaps the Le Mans–winning Ford Mark IV at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Now, think of that old pickup you once saw sitting in a field. Technically, they’re both decaying. One is just decaying far more slowly than the other.
The race car lives in a perfectly curated world. The temperature in the museum is consistent and the humidity is just so: Low enough to deter moisture-loving insects and mold, high enough to prevent the tires and other rubber seals from drying out. A museum car’s tires may barely touch the ground, because the chassis sits on jack stands. The fluids in the car—fuel, coolant, oil—have either been drained or supplemented with stabilizing agents. The upholstery is regularly vacuumed to eliminate pests. Dust barely gathers on the body before someone gently sweeps it off.
The wheel of The Henry Ford’s 1967 Ford Mark IV race car, with its original tire. The Henry Ford Museum
The pickup, meanwhile, has been at the mercy of the weather for who knows how long. The tires have cracked and rotted. Salty air might be corroding metal. Insects and/or rodents might be living inside the cabin and engine bay. The engine’s cylinders may be dry, the gas in its rusty fuel tank a kind of goo, the oil gray instead of honey-colored. Its paint may be bubbling, its carpets mildewing.
Those are two extreme examples, of course, but when it comes to the condition of a car, the storage (or display) environment makes all the difference, whether the car is Henry Ford’s original Quadricycle from 1896 or a brain scientist’s sporty Sentra from 1992. To keep a “like-new” car living up to its descriptor, the temperature must be consistent; otherwise, even the most immaculate car will bake, sweat, and/or freeze. The moisture in the air needs to be high enough to slow the decay of organic materials like tires but low enough to protect from rust. The room itself needs to be well-sealed to deter pests. The vehicle also needs a barrier (or two) between the paint and the dust, dirt, and grime that will accumulate. And that’s only the parts of the car you can see …
The Odometer Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Tom’s 16,000-mile/ 25,750-kilometer Porsche, where he found it. Youtube / Hagerty
No one is more familiar with finding automotive diamonds in rough storage situations than Tom Cotter, known as The Barn Find Hunter. When I called him to discuss this story, the consequences of bad storage were especially fresh on his mind: He had just bought a barn-find car (a 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo) with 16,000 miles. “That’s the good news,” he said. “The bad news is that it has not been driven since 1996, so nearly 30 years. And even though it had a plastic sheet on it, somehow it got filthy. Filthy. My heart breaks.” Even worse, the windows were open, and the car was infested with mice. It needs a thorough recommissioning: brakes, gas tank, fuel lines, fuel injection unit, fuel injector, fuel pump—and those are just the major areas, says Tom. He’s still in the process of figuring out how much the car needs, but if everything needs to be replaced, the work could cost as much as $40,000 usd/ $58,000 cad. Oh, and he’ll need a new set of tires—the car was parked on its original set from 1986.
“Just because a car has low miles doesn’t mean it was well cared for,” says Cotter. “Cars go bad when they sit.” A perfect storage environment and a sedentary life don’t guarantee stasis, either: “There are things that happen inside the systems of a car that break down, like the rubber in a brake system or the rubber in our fuel system. It doesn’t matter if the car is hot or cold or clean or dirty, those things are going to break down.” One interesting system that is especially prone to degrading when a car sits is the exhaust, he says. “For every gallon (3.785 liters) of fuel that’s burned in a car, a gallon of water comes out the tailpipe. It’s just part of the combustion process. And so if you run the car and then turn it off and park it for 20 years, you’ve got at least a gallon of water (3.785 liters) sitting in the exhaust system—most of it, in the muffler. Unless it’s made of stainless steel or something, it’s going to just rot right out. There’s really nothing you can do about that.”
The fluids and the metals in a car are often conspiring against each other. “One of the biggest challenges you have managing large collections—and with cars that sit, too—is coolant system corrosion,” says Scott George, curator of collections at the Revs Institute in Naples, Florida, who knows a thing or two about keeping old cars in peak health. “You’ve got brass, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, all coming in contact with water, and it can create a battery of sorts. It can almost create its own internal energy, which can attack certain metals that are most vulnerable,” like the vanes in a water pump, which are often made of a different metal than the pump itself. Using antifreeze doesn’t eliminate the problem: Those systems can corrode, too, damaging hose connections and water chambers in cylinder heads. “Corrosion in radiators, and things that attack solder and solder seams, are also a big challenge for anybody with large collections.”
Proper storage requires understanding of the car’s construction, because certain materials require special attention and/or precautions. Wool and horsehair, materials that are especially common in the upholstery of cars built before World War II, can attract cloth moths and carpet beetles. Cuong Nguyen, a senior conservator at The Henry Ford, who is heavily involved in the care of the museum’s 300-car collection, suggests vacuuming such cars each season. He also warns that some more modern wiring harnesses are made with soy-based materials that, while eco-friendly, attract mice. Sticky traps, he says, especially those without pheromones, can be good preventive measures for furry pests.
Understanding how a car is built also helps set expectations for how it ages, even in the best conditions. For instance, different sorts of paints wear differently: Lacquer-based paint, used on most cars built before the late 1980s or early ‘90s, doesn’t hold up as well as the more modern, urethane-based version. Another notoriously finicky modern material covers the soft-touch buttons found in some Italian exotics from the 1990s or early 2000s. The black material gets sticky over time.
Cotter, who owns a storage facility called Auto Barn in North Carolina, encourages enthusiasts to store their vehicles thoughtfully because they’re protecting their financial investment. “It might take you a half-day to get a car ready to lock up, but put a little bit of effort into it. You are maintaining your investment. It’s a mechanical portfolio. A car that’s parked haphazardly will more than likely go down in value.”
The best place to store a car—with any odometer reading—is in a clean, dry place with temperature and humidity control. To avoid flat spots on the tires, which can develop within a year, the car should be elevated, just slightly, on jack stands (as mentioned above, a trick used by museums) or lowered onto a set of tire cradles. If the fuel isn’t drained, it should be ethanol-free; the regular stuff turns into a gummy, gooey mess when it sits. If the fuel in the tank does contain ethanol, it should be supplemented with a fuel stabilizer. If the car was driven regularly before storage, the carpets in the driver’s side footwell should either be completely dry or propped up, away from the floorboards. Cotter explains why: moisture from the driver’s shoes may get onto and under the carpets, and it may mold the carpets or, worse, become trapped between the rubber backing and the sheet metal underneath, which may begin to rust.
Some sort of rodent protection, even a Bounce sheet, should be taken. (This nifty device, called Mouse Blocker, uses sonic pulses to keep the critters at bay.) One moisture-absorbing trick that Cotter recommends is cheap, and readily found at your local hardware store: charcoal, which absorbs moisture and odors. Ideally, the paint should be waxed and the car put under a cover. Feeling fancy? Look into a Car Capsule, the “bubbles” that the Detroit Historical Society uses to store its cars.
YouTube / Hagerty
While in Storage
Of course, not all low-mile cars are barn finds like Tom’s Porsche. Many of them present amazingly well. Scott George weighs in. There’s an excitement, he says, about buying a car that appears locked in time and cosmetically perfect—free of nicks, scrapes, bumps, wrinkles. But some people, he says, may not think about what they’re getting into at a mechanical level: “Every time I see a later-model car sell with low mileage, what often goes through my mind is ‘cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.’” He’s seen what can happen when cars sit for 25 or 30 years: “Everything functioning part of the automobile, maybe except for a total engine rebuild, has to be redone.”
Not all buyers may want to drive their pristine, low-mile prize, he admits—some may simply want to be the next owner, to park the car in their climate-controlled showroom as a trophy. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but down the road, it may be a very costly one—if not for them, for the next person who buys it and wants to drive it. “Cars are operating machines,” George says. “They like to drive.”
At the very least, a car should be started once in a while, and run for more than 5 or 10 minutes—half an hour or so, at least, so that the engine and oil can come up to temperature and cooling fluids can fully circulate. Starting a car and quickly turning it off, says Cotter, “does more damage than if you just leave it alone because the cylinders are dry—there’s not enough oil in the system.”
Acids and moisture can build up, warns George, if a car doesn’t run long enough, “and exhaust systems can corrode from the inside out, and so forth.” He practices what he preaches: The Revs Institute has an unusually high commitment to keeping most of its 120-something collection running, and that means driving the cars—on a circuit loop, for the road cars, or on track, for the race cars, whether that’s at a historic racing event or during a test day where Revs rents out a facility.
Where a car is stored may make the most difference in preserving its condition, but how it is maintained during that period is a close second. “I have witnessed actually cars that 25 or 30 years old that literally sat,” says George, “and I’ve seen it firsthand: every functioning part of the automobile, maybe except for a total engine rebuild, has to be redone. The fuel systems, the fuel injectors, all of that stuff.” Maintaining a low-mile car in driving condition requires a balance of commitment and restraint: “There are some people that have just had these wonderful low-mileage cars,” says George, “and they have done annual maintenance and they have cared for the mechanical systems. They’ve just been cautious about how many mile miles they’ve put on.”
In short, the best way to keep a car in driving condition is to, well, drive it.
“Just because a car has low miles doesn’t mean it was well cared for,” says Cotter. “Cars go bad when they sit.” A perfect storage environment and a sedentary life don’t guarantee stasis, either: “There are things that happen inside the systems of a car that break down, like the rubber in a brake system or the rubber in our fuel system. It doesn’t matter if the car is hot or cold or clean or dirty, those things are going to break down.” One interesting system that is especially prone to degrading when a car sits is the exhaust, he says. “For every gallon of fuel that’s burned in a car, a gallon of water comes out the tailpipe. It’s just part of the combustion process. And so if you run the car and then turn it off and park it for 20 years, you’ve got at least a gallon of water sitting in the exhaust system—most of it, in the muffler. Unless it’s made of stainless steel or something, it’s going to just rot right out. There’s really nothing you can do about that.”
The fluids and the metals in a car are often conspiring against each other. “One of the biggest challenges you have managing large collections—and with cars that sit, too—is coolant system corrosion,” says Scott George, curator of collections at the Revs Institute in Naples, Florida, who knows a thing or two about keeping old cars in peak health. “You’ve got brass, copper, aluminum, iron, steel, all coming in contact with water, and it can create a battery of sorts. It can almost create its own internal energy, which can attack certain metals that are most vulnerable,” like the vanes in a water pump, which are often made of a different metal than the pump itself. Using antifreeze doesn’t eliminate the problem: Those systems can corrode, too, damaging hose connections and water chambers in cylinder heads. “Corrosion in radiators, and things that attack solder and solder seams, are also a big challenge for anybody with large collections.”
Proper storage requires understanding of the car’s construction, because certain materials require special attention and/or precautions. Wool and horsehair, materials that are especially common in the upholstery of cars built before World War II, can attract cloth moths and carpet beetles. Cuong Nguyen, a senior conservator at The Henry Ford, who is heavily involved in the care of the museum’s 300-car collection, suggests vacuuming such cars each season. He also warns that some more modern wiring harnesses are made with soy-based materials that, while eco-friendly, attract mice. Sticky traps, he says, especially those without pheromones, can be good preventive measures for furry pests.
Understanding how a car is built also helps set expectations for how it ages, even in the best conditions. For instance, different sorts of paints wear differently: Lacquer-based paint, used on most cars built before the late 1980s or early ‘90s, doesn’t hold up as well as the more modern, urethane-based version. Another notoriously finicky modern material covers the soft-touch buttons found in some Italian exotics from the 1990s or early 2000s. The black material gets sticky over time.
Best-Case Storage Scenario
Cotter, who owns a storage facility called Auto Barn in North Carolina, encourages enthusiasts to store their vehicles thoughtfully because they’re protecting their financial investment. “It might take you a half-day to get a car ready to lock up, but put a little bit of effort into it. You are maintaining your investment. It’s a mechanical portfolio. A car that’s parked haphazardly will more than likely go down in value.”
The best place to store a car—with any odometer reading—is in a clean, dry place with temperature and humidity control. To avoid flat spots on the tires, which can develop within a year, the car should be elevated, just slightly, on jack stands (as mentioned above, a trick used by museums) or lowered onto a set of tire cradles. If the fuel isn’t drained, it should be ethanol-free; the regular stuff turns into a gummy, gooey mess when it sits. If the fuel in the tank does contain ethanol, it should be supplemented with a fuel stabilizer. If the car was driven regularly before storage, the carpets in the driver’s side footwell should either be completely dry or propped up, away from the floorboards. Cotter explains why: moisture from the driver’s shoes may get onto and under the carpets, and it may mold the carpets or, worse, become trapped between the rubber backing and the sheet metal underneath, which may begin to rust.
Some sort of rodent protection, even a Bounce sheet, should be taken. (This nifty device, called Mouse Blocker, uses sonic pulses to keep the critters at bay.) One moisture-absorbing trick that Cotter recommends is cheap, and readily found at your local hardware store: charcoal, which absorbs moisture and odors. Ideally, the paint should be waxed and the car put under a cover. Feeling fancy? Look into a Car Capsule, the “bubbles” that the Detroit Historical Society uses to store its cars.
YouTube / Hagerty
While in Storage
Of course, not all low-mile cars are barn finds like Tom’s Porsche. Many of them present amazingly well. Scott George weighs in. There’s an excitement, he says, about buying a car that appears locked in time and cosmetically perfect—free of nicks, scrapes, bumps, wrinkles. But some people, he says, may not think about what they’re getting into at a mechanical level: “Every time I see a later-model car sell with low mileage, what often goes through my mind is ‘cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching.’” He’s seen what can happen when cars sit for 25 or 30 years: “Everything functioning part of the automobile, maybe except for a total engine rebuild, has to be redone.”
Not all buyers may want to drive their pristine, low-mile prize, he admits—some may simply want to be the next owner, to park the car in their climate-controlled showroom as a trophy. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but down the road, it may be a very costly one—if not for them, for the next person who buys it and wants to drive it. “Cars are operating machines,” George says. “They like to drive.”
At the very least, a car should be started once in a while, and run for more than 5 or 10 minutes—half an hour or so, at least, so that the engine and oil can come up to temperature and cooling fluids can fully circulate. Starting a car and quickly turning it off, says Cotter, “does more damage than if you just leave it alone because the cylinders are dry—there’s not enough oil in the system.”
Acids and moisture can build up, warns George, if a car doesn’t run long enough, “and exhaust systems can corrode from the inside out, and so forth.” He practices what he preaches: The Revs Institute has an unusually high commitment to keeping most of its 120-something collection running, and that means driving the cars—on a 40-, 50-, or 60-mile (approx. 64-, 70-, 97 kilometer) loop, for the road cars, or on track, for the race cars, whether that’s at a historic racing event or during a test day where Revs rents out a facility.
Where a car is stored may make the most difference in preserving its condition, but how it is maintained during that period is a close second. “I have witnessed actually cars that 25 or 30 years old that literally sat,” says George, “and I’ve seen it firsthand: every functioning part of the automobile, maybe except for a total engine rebuild, has to be redone. The fuel systems, the fuel injectors, all of that stuff.” Maintaining a low-mile car in driving condition requires a balance of commitment and restraint: “There are some people that have just had these wonderful low-mileage cars,” says George, “and they have done annual maintenance and they have cared for the mechanical systems. They’ve just been cautious about how many mile miles they’ve put on.”
The rise of AI is truly remarkable. It is transforming the way we work, live, and interact with each other, and with so many other touchpoints of our lives. However, while AI aggregates, dyslexic thinking skills innovate. If used in the right way, AI could be the perfect co-pilot for dyslexics to really move the world forward. In light of this, Virgin and Made By Dyslexia have launched a brilliant campaign to show what is possible if AI and dyslexic thinking come together. The film below says it all.
As the film shows, AI can’t replace the soft skills that index high in dyslexics – such as innovating, lateral thinking, complex problem solving, and communicating.
If you ask AI for advice on how to scale a brand that has a record company – it offers valuable insights, but the solution lacks creative instinct and spontaneous decision making. If I hadn’t relied on my intuition, lateral thinking and willingness to take a risk, I would have never jumped from scaling a record company to launching an airline – which was a move that scaled Virgin into the brand it is today.
Together, dyslexic thinkers and AI are an unstoppable force, so it’s great to see that 72% of dyslexics see AI tools (like ChatGPT) as a vital starting point for their projects and ideas – according to new research by Made By Dyslexia and Randstad Enterprise. With help from AI, dyslexics have limitless power to change the world, but we need everyone to welcome our dyslexic minds. If businesses fail to do this, they risk being left behind. As the Value of Dyslexia report highlighted, dyslexic skillsets will mirror the World Economic Forum’s future skills needs by end of this year (2025). Given the speed at which technology and AI have progressed, this cross-over has arrived two years earlier than predicted.
Image: Sarah Rogers/MITTR
With all of this in mind, it’s concerning to see a big difference between how HR departments think they understand and support dyslexia in the workplace, versus the experience of dyslexic people themselves.
The new research also shows that 66% of HR professionals believe they have support structures in place for dyslexia, yet only 16% of dyslexics feel supported in the workplace. It’s even sadder to see that only 14% of dyslexic employees believe their workplace understands the value of dyslexic thinking. There is clearly work to be done here.
To empower dyslexic thinking in the workplace (which has the two-fold benefit of bringing out the best in your people and in your business), you need to understand dyslexic thinking skills. To help with this, Made By Dyslexia is launching a workplace training course later this year on LinkedIn Learning – and you can sign up for it now. The course will be free to access, and I’m delighted that Virgin companies from all across the world have signed up for it – from Virgin Australia, to Virgin Active Singapore, to Virgin Plus Canada and Virgin Voyages. It’s such an insightful course, designed by experts at Made By Dyslexia to educate people on how to understand, support, and empower dyslexic thinking in the workplace, and make sure businesses are ready for the future.
It’s always inspiring to see how Made By Dyslexia empowers dyslexics, and shows the world the limitless power of dyslexic thinking. If businesses can harness this power, and if dyslexics can harness the power of AI – we can really drive the future forward. Richard Branson, Founder at Virgin Group.
How well will you be spotted at sea by other ships, in rough and nasty weather? Our friends at Rolly Tasker asked three highly experienced ocean adventurers to give a unique insight into their thoughts on this.
How well will you be spotted at sea by other ships, in rough and nasty weather? As Rolly Tasker Sails are making sails for some of the world’s most ardent ocean sailors, this was a natural question to ask. Three highly experienced ocean adventurers give a unique insight into their thoughts on orange sails. The one thing they have in common? Serious ocean sailing and sails by Rolly Tasker Sails!
André Freibote: North Sea and Atlantic
André Freibote from Germany is sailing a Beneteau Oceanis 473 out of Bremerhaven on professional offshore sail training trips across the North Sea and out into the North Atlantic Ocean – in fact, he very nearly met up with Eric Aanderaa in Iceland in the 2024 summer! See his website “Segelpartner Nordsee” for more information on his cruising schedule and how you can join (in German language).
Eric Aanderaa: North Atlantic Ocean
Eric of course also offered his thoughts and needs no further introduction other than himself being Mr. No Bullshit Just Sailing. The crazy guy from Norway who sails from Haugesund out into the northern ocean no matter the weather or the season, on his Contessa 35, becoming a YouTube sailing star in the process.
Pat Lawless: on Golden Globe Race
The vastly experienced professional seaman and sailor Pat Lawless from Ireland, who is currently preparing his Saltram Saga 36 to compete, for the second time, in the non-stop, single-handed around-the-world retro “Golden Globe” race (GGR) that will start in 2026. Needless to say, he will again put his trust into Rolly Tasker Sails. Find out more about Pat on his website.
So, are sails in bright orange a good idea to increase visibility of your boat? We know that many storm sails are made in orange for this reason, but what about your standard sails?
“Orange colours stand out from sea and sky far away. It will definitely make it easier for other traffic to spot you. It will also make it much easier to find you in a distress situation”, says Eric. “In all cases orange is the most visible colour of them all, I believe.” Pat is yet looking at colour choices for his new sails for the GGR: “I have been thinking about safety orange sails for a while. The Notice of Race for the Golden Globe Race says all the sails have to be the same colour with safety yellow or orange at the top of the mainsail. That means that all the sails can be safety orange or yellow. I know from using an orange storm jib and having a bright orange spray dodger that it’s easy on the eyes. Probably better than White. Am I brave enough to go all orange sails?” Finally, André is quite clear on the subject: “The situation will arise when you just can’t be orange enough at sea!”
And this despite AIS and radar?
“AIS is actually clear in the information, giving name, call sign, course, speed and so on. However, if a sailing yacht is detected by radar in poor visibility, the lookout on a commercial vessel should be diligent. Here on the North Sea, we have already received radio messages along the lines of: “Fantastic, how well we can see you, sailing yacht Polaris!” It is imperative, so it seems, to be seen by eye and not only rely on radar or AIS, although all commercial ships and some fishing vessels receive and send AIS signals and rely mostly on AIS and radar for their lookout. However, visual contact also is extremely important.
Pat confirms this: “In the Golden Globe Race we don’t have a plotter or other modern equipment. We do have an AIS transmitter, and active radar reflector. Any ships I spoke to while at sea all said that they saw me a long way off, no problem.”
Would you have the entire sail in orange or just a patch or the top part?
Eric says: “I like to have at least the top part orange, as its the highest point on the boat, letting the sails easily be spotted in between big wavetops.”
André: “The upper area of the mainsail and all the sails on the cutter stay are completely orange. Since the cutter stay is on a furling system, the UV protection of the sails is also in orange to ensure better visibility even when furled.”
What about other parts of the boat?
Eric: “I have painted the sides of the rooftop in orange, changed my blue sprayhood to orange and changed the cutter sail-bag to orange. This way the boat will be much more visible.”
Pat also plans to brighten up his boat in a similar way: “In storms the hull is so important. I will put an orange stripe over the white about 150mm just under the gunnel and the same on the top of the cabin sides. This should stand out with the white underneath it. I had about 3sq meters of safety orange on the deck in the GGR 2022. This will be freshened up when I apply the stripes. Apart from that, the Saltram Saga 36 is a good dry boat. I don’t use dodgers on the lifelines. In the Southern Ocean they are wind pollution in the wrong place and sometimes block areas of sight. My spray dodger will be safety orange. But in storms, it will be folded down.”
André, on the other hand, seems happy for now with his orange sails: “At the moment I am not planning to change any other parts on board to orange. However, I could see my lazy bag for the mainsail in orange.”
Will orange sails, sprayhoods or dodgers not be too bright on the eyes in fair weather and sunshine?
Eric has taken this potential problem into account: “The sails in orange are not quite as intense as the bright signal colour painted on deck. Still, the sails will be visible from far away.” André believes that this will not be an issue at all: “Never too bright!”
How Orange Will You Be?
How orange would you dress up your boat for ocean sailing or offshore passages? Pat is still in the decision-making process: “My quandary is mainly about the colour of the sails. I need to make a decision early in 2025. While sailing in the longest, loneliest, sporting event in the world, I need to be seen as easy as possible. The sails are the biggest area of the boat most of the time.” But will he really have all sails completely in orange? At Rolly Tasker Sails, we offer suitable sail-cloth in “Storm Orange”. However, if you want to go for specific types of sail fabric, the solution will probably come down to having orange sail tops or patches.
The View From the Bridge
It’s always good to see also the other perspective, so we spoke to a commercial Captain, Master Mariner Reemt Remmers, about visibility of yachts at sea. He fully confirms the fact that orange sails are a true safety factor for yachts at sea, especially in rough weather with limited visibility. Which is when, according to him, there will often be an extra lookout on the bridge.
Orange, AIS and Radar
Orange, incidentally, is also the signal colour for ship’s lifeboats. Obviously not without reason. And if a ship’s officer from the bridge spots an orange object somewhere out there, this officer will then instantly be on full alert. AIS, on the other hand, is just as important. There will be times in ship’s routine when only one officer will be on the bridge who will rely on AIS and radar. Obviously, also at night, these technologies are essential to remain visible.
Between these two, Reemt Remmers also confirms that yachts are often easier to spot and identify on AIS rather than by radar. In heavy seas especially, the radar signal response from a yacht can be quite weak and might not be noticed by the watch-keeping officer. An AIS signal, on the other hand, will be clearly seen and also contains all essential information about the type of boat and her movements in a clear and precise way. For the Silo, Sven Cornelius.
The technological enhancement in our age makes our life a lot easier than we first thought. Especially in the field of real estate, technology brings us effective construction methods. Let’s think about implementing some of that new technology in our homes for a moment.
The roof in particular needs more attention than other parts of a house because it faces more rough weather contact and gets damaged slowly but surely. Saving your roof and increasing its life span is very important. Recent roofing trends may help reduce the hassle of replacing the roof with technological help. These trends are sustainable and ensure a long life span.
Roofing technology trends
Solar Roofs:
Can you guess the type of this advanced roof?
Solar roofs are trending because they are a cheap and effective roofing technology for homeowners. Solar is sustainable and works as an alternative power source. It gives support to your house along with a solar energy source. Solar roofs have been getting popular for the last few years. People are accepting this technology for many reasons. Solar roofs are becoming physically stronger due to ever improving solar tiles and shingles. It also saves lots of extra electricity expenses and offer unlimited power backup direct from the sun.
Green Roofs:
Green roofs are a kind of living pleasure. They will give you the feeling of living in a jungle with the latest technology. Green roofs shield directly the intense hit from the warm heat coming from the sun. They also absorb rainwater so that the roof can avoid flooding. Moreover, a green roof is eco-friendly and a suitable place for relaxing.
Green roofs have lots of benefits. This type of roofing technology ensures more durability than other roofing. It creates a natural feel for the eye and makes the roof a perfect hangout place. It also absorbs the heat of the building. So the whole building remains cool in the warm season.
Drone:
Drones are a surprisingly useful innovation of science and technology. These remotely controlled flying robots are handy devices that help us in many ways. In terms of real estate, drones help with the capability of Ariel observation. You can inspect your entire home along with the roof without having to climb up and down a ladder or having to physically move to every single spot. The drone will go do the inspections for you and you can observe the whole process by viewing your mobile phone screen.
In the roofing industry, drone technology becomes a must-have tool. It is now used widely for its benefits. Roofers use them often for any kind of roof-related assistance. The high-resolution cameras give a clear and detailed intro to any problems. As mentioned earlier, since the roofer doesn’t have to climb on the roof for further inspection it helps the whole project by cutting down work time and adding an extra level of safety.
Drone photos or videos also help the project manager and roof repair company build their project portfolio. Nowadays, every real estate company uses drones in every project because it helps the company to plan perfectly for repairing a damaged roof or installing a new one.
Mixed material roofs:
We always want to install long-lasting roofs. The reason behind this is installing a new roof or replacing shingles from time to time wastes lots of money. Why should someone spend time and money on a something that may only last 5 seasons, if they could install a more stable and longer lasting durable roof at a reasonable price?
Nowadays, new and innovative technology takes roofing ideas into far more advanced areas. Technological improvements have introduced us to sustainable roofing options never dreamed of a few decades ago. Options like cool roofs, green roofs, solar roofs, and so on.
We all know that metal roofs are popular for their durability.
Tech improvements have also added various style and color options so that modern roofs can better match the building structure. Because of the improvement in aesthetics, metal roofing technology is successfully gaining attention from homeowners: read more about eco-friendly metal roofs.
Recently an architectural trend called mixed material is getting popular. By mixing various materials together, roofs can be stronger than a single material. It is something like the proverb “unity makes us strong”. That’s why composite shingles and metal makes a strong and sustainable element that increases the lifespan of the roof.
Mobile Apps:
Using mobile phones every day is a habit for all of us. We can’t live a single day without using a mobile phone. Although there are several reasons behind this, a mobile phone can help our day become efficient through the use of apps.
Mobile apps take on an important role in the roofing business. Using mobile roofing applications, we can measure the whole building and roof remotely. We can create a complete report and send them directly to the workers.
It saves time and increases the project success rate. Roofing and building apps also help find out the estimated time for the project complication. Contractors have affirmed that all kinds of paper work and invoices are easy to handle with mobile roofing software.
Last word
We all know “Old is Gold”. But that proverb is not suitable for every sector of human life. Particularly, in the real estate business, implementing new technology in the roofing system will increase durability. That’s why new roofing technology trends are getting popular day by day.
Fraunhofer will be at CES 2025 from January 6-January 8, 2025 at the Fraunhofer suite in the Venetian Hotel.
December 31, 2024, Erlangen, Germany — Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (Fraunhofer IIS), a leading developer of advanced audio technologies, including mp3 and AAC, will present at CES 2025 upHear Flexible Rendering, a ground-breaking audio technologythat greatly simplifies high-quality immersive sound experiences on consumer audio reproduction devices, including loudspeakers, soundbars, and TVs. upHear Flexible Rendering enhances and distributes sound flexibly to all available speakers for a spectacular enveloping immersive audio effect at all times.
upHear Flexible Rendering for Effortless Flexibility: Expand Setups from Stereo to Immersive
upHear Flexible Rendering belongs to Fraunhofer’s upHear range of audio processing technologies. They enhance the sound quality of content from voice signals to immersive audio masterpieces and provide pristine audio pickup as well as faithful reproduction from classic stereo setups to complex scenarios with multiple devices. The upHear Flexible Rendering technology automatically combines wireless speakers for the best possible experience, supporting new immersive audio formats as well as providing first-class upmixing for legacy content.
What Makes This Technology Impressively Different
With upHear Flexible Rendering, everything is adjustable: Adding or removing a speaker from the system is no trouble due to its automaticadaptation to the current playback situation. Its inherent flexibility provides the option for effortless system growth making it very budget-friendly. All systems upgraded with upHear Flexible Rendering achieve enhanced immersion for an extraordinary sound experience. “Currently, users can only connect to one smart speaker at a time or to a fixed setup per room.
With the upHear technology, you now have the flexibility to conveniently combine any number of speakers into an immersive speaker cluster wherever you want. Party music in the kitchen? Transform your living room into a movie theatre? Operas in the bathroom? It is all possible without a fuss,” said Sebastian Meyer, Product Manager upHear, Fraunhofer IIS.
Fraunhofer Demos will be available at CES 2025 –
Speaker Repositioning: Smart speakers will be distributed in the room playing immersive music. The upHear Flexible Rendering technology will make it possible to add/remove speakers and to reposition them. The upHear algorithm optimizes the sound image based on the current setup. Visitors will be able to try out repositioning for themselves. The wireless speaker setup also uses the Fraunhofer Communication Codec LC3plus for ultra-low-latency wireless audio transmission.
upHear Microphone Processing Technologies: Through live calls, Fraunhofer will show how they make life easier: An “office” in the suite will show advanced AI-based technologies such as Echo Control, Noise Reduction, and the latest feature: Voice Isolation, which is the highlight of the Microphone Processing area. Users can create a “fingerprint” of their voice in seconds, which makes it possible to remove all sounds but their voice from a call for a truly personalized live call experience for better conferencing.
upHear Mobile Audio: Fraunhofer’s virtualization platform opens the door to true spatial playback experiences on headphones. It works from a multitude of sources, from legacy stereo to current immersive formats. Thanks to the minimum resource requirements of the low-complexity rendering, it can run on DSPs for any audio device class, be it headphones, mobile devices, home audio systems, or even a low-power XR devices.
Fraunhofer Audio Codecs to be presented at CES 2025 –
xHE-AAC: The stereo codec for broadcast and streaming provides DASH/HLS streaming at 12-320+ kbit/s, a new anchor loudness feature, mandatory loudness and dynamic range control, improved speech quality, and stereo imaging. The technology is already used by Netflix, Facebook stories, and Instagram Reels. xHE-AAC is natively supported on the latest Amazon, Android, Microsoft, and Apple products and operating systems.
LC3plus Lossless: Video calls, music, and gaming are best enjoyed with wireless headphones and microphones that deliver perfect audio quality and long battery life. With LC3plus, sound reaches users in perfect quality and the new LC3plus Lossless switches seamlessly between lossless and lossy modes of operation. It works with all features of LC3plus, including low-delay and superior robustness thanks to Advanced Packet Loss Concealment. LC3plus is on the Japan Audio Society’s list of codecs whose implementation opens the door for device manufacturers to use the prestigious High-Res Audio Wireless logo. Fraunhofer IIS will demonstrate integrations into the AKG N5 Hybrid Earbuds, a HyperX gaming headset, a Sony streaming microphone, and a headphone prototype by BEStechnic.
MPEG-H Audio: Next Generation Audio system for streaming and broadcast applications with advanced personalization and accessibility options. Fraunhofer will showcase devices by globally leading CE manufacturers with MPEG-H Audio support, which is required for Brazil’s upcoming broadcast standard DTV+. Here, the technology helps Globo, TV Cultura, and other major providers to deliver customizable immersive sound experiences with a high degree of accessibility. Viewers can choose between different languages and commentators or select a version with enhanced dialogue.
For the Silo, Karen Thomas/ Eva Yutani.
About Fraunhofer IIS Audio & Media Technologies Fraunhofer IIS is part of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe’s leading applied research organization. Theglobal leader in advanced technologies for audio coding and moving picture production. Almost all computers, mobile phones, and consumer electronic devices available today are equipped with technologies from Erlangen and are used by billions of people around the world every day. The creation of mp3, co-development of AAC as well as HE-AAC prove how Fraunhofer IIS has been innovating the audio sector for over 30 years. The current generation of compelling audio technologies includes Fraunhofer Symphoria for automotive 3D audio, EVS for phone calls with crystal-clear audio quality, xHE-AAC, which is used by major streaming services such as Netflix, by Facebook stories, and by Instagram Reels. MPEG-H Audio delivers personalized immersive sound for broadcast and streaming, which lets viewers adjust dialogue volume to suit their personal preferences.
Fighting against global warming is not popular with consumers today. But the consequences of a changing climate will not necessarily be kinder to the wallet.
If we take the case of three foodstuffs that are particularly consumed for breakfast, namely coffee, chocolate, and orange juice, a combination of unfavourable weather conditions have led to significant decreases in production and very sharp price increases: Lesechos.fr
Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of Arabica, is now increasingly plagued by drought (the latest one has almost dried up tributaries of the Amazon), which, not only affects harvests, but also results in hydroelectric production that has not increased for a decade.
It is again the drought that has penalized Vietnam, the leading exporter of Robusta, the other major variety of coffee grown in the world. In the end, the price of coffee has increased by 70% in one year.
But this is nothing compared to cocoa, whose price tripled over the period, due to unfavorable conditions in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which account for 60% of exported volumes.
One of the margins for maneuver to lower prices is to increase production, but it is known that, for coffee and cocoa, the expansion of cultivation areas leads to deforestation… which will exacerbate global warming.
More coffee and chocolate?
Let’s drink orange juice! Unfortunately, the situation is not much more favorable for this citrus fruit. The table shows the drought in Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of oranges, but also a parasite that has led Florida’s production to be divided by 4.
Energy abundance, which started in a stable climate, has radically changed our consumption habits of exotic products in a few decades, allowing for long-range mass transport, and increasing crop yields.
Today, an orange, a chocolate bar or a cup of coffee have become commonplace products. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that deglobalization (which will be a reality with a greatly reduced supply of hydrocarbons) and climate change will trigger an evolution that will go more or less far in the other direction.
Lutter contre le réchauffement climatique n’a pas la faveur du consommateur aujourd’hui. Mais les conséquences d’un climat changeant ne seront pas nécessairement plus clémentes pour le porte-monnaie.
Si l’on prend le cas de trois denrées particulièrement consommées au petit déjeuner, à savoir le café, le chocolat, et le jus d’orange, une conjonction de conditions météo défavorables ont conduit à des baisses significatives de production et des augmentations très fortes de prix : Lesechos.fr
Le Brésil, premier exportateur mondial d’Arabica, est désormais en proie de plus en plus souvent à la sécheresse (la dernière en date a quasiment mis à sec des affluents de l’Amazone), laquelle, non contente d’affecter les récoltes, a aussi pour conséquence une production hydroélectrique qui n’augmente plus depuis une grosse décennie.
C’est encore la sécheresse qui a pénalisé Le Vietnam, premier exportateur de Robusta, l’autre grande variété de café cultivée dans le monde. A l’arrivée, le prix du café a augmenté de 70% en un an.
Mais ce n’est rien à côté du cacao, dont le cours a triplé sur la période, à cause de conditions défavorables en Côte d’Ivoire et au Ghana, qui totalisent 60% des volumes exportés.
Une des marges de manoeuvre pour faire baisser les prix est d’augmenter la production, mais il est connu que, pour le café et le cacao, l’expansion des zones de culture engendre de la déforestation… qui va exacerber le réchauffement climatique.
Plus de café et de chocolat ? Buvons du jus d’orange ! Malheureusement, la situation n’est pas beaucoup plus favorable pour cet agrume. On retrouve dans la tableau la sécheresse au Brésil, premier exportateur mondial d’oranges, mais aussi un parasite qui a conduit la production de Floride à être divisée par 4.
L’abondance énergétique, qui a démarré dans un climat stable, a radicalement changé nos habitudes de consommation de produits exotiques en quelques décennies, en permettant les transports de masse à longue portée, et l’augmentation des rendements des cultures.
Aujourd’hui, une orange, une tablette de chocolat ou une tasse de café sont devenus des produits banals. Mais il ne faut pas être grand clerc pour comprendre que la démondialisation (qui sera une réalité avec un approvisionnement en hydrocarbures fortement diminué) et le changement climatique vont enclencher une évolution qui ira plus ou moins loin dans l’autre sens.
Encore une question pas simple en perspective ! Pour leSilo, Jean-Marc Jancovic.
The internet and its vast adoption have now had a huge impact on our shopping and consumer habits. It provides more choice than ever before when it comes to shopping around. Here’s a boring but necessary example- If you’re going to get your car insured, there are many sites that directly compare providers of insurance so that you don’t have to.
There are also plenty of sites that specialize in allowing you and other consumers to leave honest reviews on products or services that are offered by businesses, no matter what country they’re in. In fact, the sole purpose of some of these websites is to help you, aid you in making informed decisions, and hold businesses to account when it comes to bad reviews to explain themselves and resolve their issues. I bet that there are many of you who have discovered that your highly anticipated Christmas present is ‘not as advertised’. Bummer. The best way of preventing this from happening to others is to leave an honest review.
A lot of choice out there
And if you’re looking to make a choice between one business and another, a review can have a huge sway in eventually helping you decide which is the best one to choose. A fine example is a website called casinos.com that allows users to leave reviews on both online casinos and on the top slot games. And in the casino industry, in particular, competition is so fierce amongst some of the top brands in the industry at the moment that having positive reviews can help them gain more players, so it’s essential they provide good service and an entertaining experience.
The consequences of negative reviews
Put yourself in a typical consumer’s shoes. If you go to a review website and see a raft of bad reviews for a particular store or a particular website, this immediately throws up warning flags. If a business has thousands of reviews left and there’s the odd low rating that can be looked past, but when you notice trends or the vast majority are negative reviews, you won’t consider joining that site. It’s like the internet’s version of word of mouth, and so it’s vitally important that online casinos and businesses in other industries ensure that they have support structures in place to help consumers and online users, rather than them resorting to leaving a bad review.
How many people will look online for a review?
To put into numbers just how influential reviews are, a recent study found that 93% of customers will look at an online review before going ahead and spending money online. That is an absolutely huge majority. And so, essentially, if you have shocking reviews for your business online, on average, about 93% of your potential customers are going to be able to see these negative reviews, and this will more than likely ensure that these are lost sales where they go to one of your competitors. A lot of the top eCommerce sites such as Amazon also allow customers to leave reviews on products following their purchase directly on the site so that users don’t have to go to other sources in order to discover other peoples feedback.
A digital form of word-of-mouth
A lot of our consumer behavior is influenced by what others think. Reviews are just the internet equivalent of a personal recommendation from a friend. You may have had it before where you’ve asked either on social media or directly to friends or family about a recommendation for a certain service, and you’ve gone ahead and chosen their recommendation due to your affiliation and pre-existing relationship with that particular person. And although you don’t know the people directly who leave reviews, there is no doubt that if there is a large quantity, it can certainly influence a purchasing decision.
Reviews of products
Although you’re looking for online reviews, they are only available on online websites. A lot of people will also share reviews in video format on places such as YouTube. This is popular amongst electronics such as smartphones and watches, and a common method as you probably already know is called unboxing, whereby they will show you the features of a certain product after unboxing it.
There are also a lot of blog websites where someone will blog about their experience or their personal views and opinions on a certain service, subject, or product. This is also a very popular resource for people to look at before potentially reaching a decision on whether to buy a product.
In Summary
From what we’ve discussed today, it’s abundantly clear that reviews can and do have a huge influence on our consumer culture and behavior. If you have been slighted by a gift that is not as advertised do us all a favor and leave a review. They help a lot in helping us make informed decisions as consumers prior to making a decision to purchase either a product or a service. For the Silo, Diane Hutton.
Once again it’s Christmas Eve and time for our perennial Christmas post which seems to gain more relevance and urgency with each year. Merry Christmas to you all!
It seems that every where you turn these days, it is becoming incorrect to celebrate the Christmas holidays in “the manner in which you have become accustomed”- at least in the manner in which I have become accustomed.
To truly celebrate the Christmas season, and that’s what it is, no matter what anyone says, I have become open-minded and willing to accept EVERYONE’S ideas for the holiday season. If you disagree, please refrain from attending any “holiday” parties or dinners, taking the day off on December 25th or 26th (should you work for a company that still acknowledges these days as holidays) and carry on as usual. Should you happen to work for the government you are safe (for now) as they would never legislate against their own days off, although when it comes to politicians, I don’t believe never is in their vocabulary (particularly when it comes to matters involving taxes).
The true “spirit” of the holiday season (oops, I meant to say Christmas) is for people to pause and give thanks. According to the man-made calendar of months and years, we are getting ready to start a New Year.
We give thanks for the things we have received in the past (not to be confused with Thanksgiving, another man-made tradition) and offer gifts to the people that have blessed us over the past year.
Being the humble (not humbug, Mr. Scrooge) creatures that we are, we also accept gifts from others (although for most it is not OUR birthday), all the while muttering that we aren’t worthy. Once these gifts are exchanged, a significant amount of “Why would she buy me this?” and “I don’t NEED another scarf” or “Does he think I’m that big?” are voiced in private, to be repeated over the next month or so. In the days immediately following Christmas, our thankful spirit has usually been diminished significantly.
The greatest reason for pausing at the end of the year (and any time, for that matter) is to be grateful for what you have.
Being grateful does not mean that you have to thank every one in your life personally, and you DON’T have to buy them a gift. If you are expecting a gift from someone you are probably going to be disappointed, and if you don’t reciprocate in kind you are going to be REALLY disappointed. If you have chosen to be open-minded I want to thank you for getting this far. I hope that you will also be open to a spiritual suggestion that will make you feel happy inside even though you may have received nothing outside.
Whether it is Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, the Chinese New Year, Hanukkah or Guy Lombardo’s Rocking New Year’s Eve, let those people who enjoy these festivals enjoy them. When someone acknowledges you with a holiday greeting that you are unfamiliar with, don’t believe in or if it makes you blow a gasket, pause for a moment and reply with a hearty “That’s The Spirit!”. Unless they have an aversion to ghosts, that reply should be fairly safe no matter what the season.
Let others grumble and complain that Christmas is too commercialized, the spirit of giving has been lost (or is too expensive), kids are spoiled today, no one appreciates anything and the holidays are just too much of a hassle anymore. Bellowing “That’s The Spirit!” right back at them is a great stress reliever, and at the very least will allow them to walk away from you (quickly, perhaps) in much the same way Lucy was bowled over by Charlie Brown’s enthusiastic “That’s It!” in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.
At the risk of revealing my upbringing, I wish everyone a “Merry Christmas”, “Happy New Year” and a “God bless us, everyone”. By the way, for me it truly IS a wonderful life… For the Silo, Rick Fess.
Chef Shelley Alexander is a big fan of “start your day off with a green smoothie” even if that day is Christmas morning.
For many people, the holidays involve indulging in buffet tables loaded with lots of fattening, processed foods and sugary sweets.
For those of us who strive the rest of the year to eat a healthy diet while leading busy lives, it can be a challenging time. Not only are we busier than ever, we know that all those foods we usually try to avoid are going to give us indigestion, sap our energy, and pile on the pounds.
“It really isn’t hard to give yourself, your family and friends the gift of delicious, nutrient-rich meals over the holidays,” says holistic chef and certified healing foods specialist Shelley Alexander, author of “Deliciously Holistic,” (www.aharmonyhealing.com), a new, full-color cookbook featuring more than 154 of her favorite healing foods recipes and 50 pages of holistic lifestyle tips to increase energy and immunity.
“Instead of heading to the local supermarket, visit a farmers’ market, where you can buy fresh, local, seasonal and organic produce, along with other nutritious foods created by farmers and local food artisans,” she says. “You’ll have a much more enjoyable experience in addition to stocking up on all the ingredients you need to have handy. You can also find excellent choices at natural and health food stores.”
Nutrient-rich, whole foods that don’t have unnatural fillers and other additives, including seasonal, organic vegetables and fruits, wild-caught
seafood, and pasture-raised, organic chicken and meats that come from well-fed, unadulterated, healthy animals, will completely nourish your body, make you feel better and ramp up your energy, she says. And you’ll find you won’t overeat, so it’s much easier to maintain your weight without counting calories.
Unbelievable calorie count!
Alexander offers six tips for quick and convenient healthy eating during the holidays.
1• When shopping, check labels and avoid foods with a long list of ingredients. The best whole foods have one or just a few unprocessed or minimally processed, easily recognized ingredients, Alexander says. Among ingredients to avoid: chemicals, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, nitrates, MSG, genetically modified ingredients and preservatives (indicated by the initials BHT, BHA, EDTA and
THBQ.)
2• Set aside a few hours each week to prep foods to eat in the days ahead. Cut up produce and store it in airtight containers. Lightly wash produce before using with natural vegetable wash or use one part white vinegar to three parts water. Make several homemade vinaigrettes or dressings to last all week so you can make leafy greens and vegetable salads in minutes. Clean and marinate enough meat or poultry for dinners over the next few days.
3• Start your day with a green smoothie. Cut and freeze organic fresh fruit to use in green smoothies. You can also buy frozen fruit that’s already cut up. Add organic kale or spinach, coconut water or nut and seed milks plus natural sweeteners such as dates or stevia for an energy-boosting beverage.
4• For your holiday dinners, plan on making at least three to four dishes that are both delicious and nutritious. Good examples are pasture-raised, wild turkey with sage and garlic, baked wild salmon with lemon and herbs, steamed greens, roasted heirloom root vegetables drizzled with balsamic glaze, pureed winter squash soups, and desserts made with seasonal fruits, spices, and healthy sweeteners like coconut sugar or raw honey.
5• Invest in a dehydrator. Dehydrate fruits and vegetables and raw nuts or seeds that have been soaked in unrefined sea salt water (which removes anti-nutrients, kick-starts the germination process, and increases key vitamins), and you’ll have plenty of on-the-go snacks with a long shelf life. Dehydrators are convenient and easy to use; Alexander recommends Excalibur branded products.
6• Make batches of fermented vegetables twice a month. Alexander recommends eating fermented vegetables every day to keep your digestive system healthy. They’re loaded with probiotics – the good bacteria your intestines need. Mix a variety of organic vegetables such as carrots and celery into brine with warm filtered water, unrefined sea salt, and cultured vegetable starter or liquid whey, and mix with shredded cabbage heads. Pack the mixture into sterilized glass jars and allow the vegetables to ferment for five to seven days. Once done fermenting, store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
“Stick to whole, healthy foods this holiday season, and you’ll feel so good, you won’t want to go near the buffet table at your office party,” Alexander says.
Shelley Alexander, CHFS: Shelley Alexander has enjoyed a lifelong love of delicious, locally grown, seasonal foods. She received her formal chef’s training at The Los Angeles Culinary Institute. Alexander is a holistic chef, certified healing foods specialist, cookbook author, and owner of the holistic health company, A Harmony Healing, in Los Angeles.
TORONTO – Practical gifts are back on the up trending list for homeowners both new and seasoned. Whether modernizing an old style kitchen or just looking for an ergonomic water saver, there are literally hundreds of choices available over a wide range of price points.
Selecting the perfect faucet for your kitchen may seem slightly daunting, but with a clear idea in mind, it’s easy to find the right one that will go with the flow.
“Installing the right kitchen faucet that fits your kitchen’s style is the final touch that will completely tie the room together,” said Mark Wallace, Senior Group Marketing Manager of Spectrum Brands – Hardware & Home Improvement. “People always notice a unique looking faucet when they enter a kitchen and depending on the model it can act as a true statement piece for the room. When considering a new faucet, the right one shouldn’t just provide function but should also reflect your overall kitchen style.”
To help you find the faucet that best matches your style, Pfister created a quick guide of the five most popular kitchens and what faucet you should consider to best match that style:
Country – White painted wood trim and butcher-block counter tops give the country style kitchen a charming and cozy feeling. Match the Pfister Glenfield with this style and watch it blend into the farmhouse vibe.
Modern – Clean lines, stark colors and stone accents make up the modern style kitchen. Make a statement with the Pfister Vosa featuring a simple and refined beauty – a perfect fit for the modern kitchen that has modern fixtures and modern lighting.
This gorgeous Pfister Tisbury single control Bronze kitchen faucet retails for around $450.00 cad.
Note the wonderful contours and finish on this Pfister faucet.
Rustic – Weathered cupboards, antique kitchen tables and exposed brick make up the increasingly popular rustic style kitchen. At home in front of a backsplash of colorful tiles or looking out a window, the Pfister Ashfield has an old-school design that will work in any rustic styled kitchen.
European – Functional and sleek, the European style kitchen is clean from its black tile floors to the exposed wood beams above. Go for the Pfister Fullerton, a sleek and angular faucet that will complement the room’s Scandinavian influence.
Traditional – Hanging bronze pots, a mix of wood and stone and sunlight streaming through large windows make this the most popular room of the house for a reason. A classic choice, such as the Pfister Wheaton looks right in a traditional kitchen, providing a functional and stylish option.
The true “spirit” of the holiday season (oops, I meant to say Christmas) is for people to pause and give thanks. According to the man-made calendar of months and years, we are getting ready to start a New Year.
